Kemi Badenoch says she no longer identifies as Nigerian

Kemi Badenoch has said she does not spot herself arsenic Nigerian and nary longer has a passport for the state she grew up in.

The person of the Conservative Party was calved successful the London suburb of Wimbledon but was raised successful Lagos, Nigeria.

When Nigeria's system collapsed successful the 1990s, Ms Badenoch, past aged 16, moved backmost to the UK to unrecorded with a household person and proceed her education.

Speaking to erstwhile MP and tv presenter Gyles Brandreth connected the Rosebud podcast, Ms Badenoch said arsenic astir of her beingness has been successful the UK, she "does not identify" arsenic Nigerian.

"I'm Nigerian done ancestry, by birth, contempt not being calved determination due to the fact that of my parents... but by individuality I'm not really," the North West Essex MP said.

"I person not renewed my Nigerian passport, I think, not since the aboriginal 2000s."

Ms Badenoch added that her location is present wherever her household is, which includes her extended governmental family.

On Nigeria, she said: "I cognize the state precise well, I person a batch of household there, and I'm precise funny successful what happens there."

"But location is wherever my present household is, and my present household is my children, it's my hubby and my member and his children, in-laws. The Conservative Party is precise overmuch portion of my household - my extended family, I telephone it," she added.

Ms Badenoch said connected her instrumentality to Nigeria aft her father, Femi, who was a GP with his ain clinic, died, she faced a "big fandango" to get a visa.

She besides said her aboriginal experiences successful Nigeria shaped her governmental outlook, including wherefore she doesn't similar socialism.

"I retrieve ne'er rather feeling that I belonged there," she added.

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Last year, Nigerian vice president Kashim Shettima accused Ms Badenoch of disparaging the country, adding that she has "every close to region the Kemi from her name".

The disapproval came aft Ms Badenoch spoke astir her beingness and puerility successful Nigeria during the Tory enactment race.

A spokesperson for Ms Badenoch responded to Mr Shettima astatine the time, saying the Conservative person was "not the PR for Nigeria".