Dec 13th, 2024
Kemi Badenoch: A proud Yoruba British Woman
Recent insulting statement from VP of Nigeria Mr. Kazeem Shetimma should draw aggressive criticism from true and conscientious Yoruba sons and daughters and Yoruba organizations worldwide, the deafening silence from these organizations is a strong indication of the state of decadence of the sleeping great race.
For Shetimma, a Kanuri man to suggest that Mrs. Kemi Badenoch nee Adegoke should change her name is an insult directed to the Yoruba as a whole not to Kemi. Mrs. Badenoch established her identity and narrated her experience in Nigeria as a young child growing up in the country, she does not carry Nigeria passport anymore and has expressed countless time her experience with the nation which can be corroborated by many. Nigeria as a country did not contribute to her success and many Nigerians she has expressed had made her their number one enemy just simply because she is Yoruba, she has revealed this via her encounter with one caller on a radio station in her early years as a rising politician, a Nigerian woman from the Eastern part of the country expressed hatred to her because she is Yoruba. Mr. Shetimma who is supposedly VP of Nigeria, should spend his time more deeply to find solutions to the problems that had made someone like Mrs Kemi Badenoch reject Nigeria identity as opposed to suggesting that she should change her name.
Mr. Shetimma does not have any authority to insult Mrs. Badenoch heritage by suggesting that she should change her name. Perhaps, Mr. Shetimma needs to be informed since he is ignorant of Yoruba identity and ignorant of the Nigeria history where great civilizations were dissolved to forge the Nigeria identity of today. The Yoruba identity is independent of Nigeria identity, Yoruba is beyond Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Mrs. Badenoch did not deny her Yoruba identity and she has expressed that she identifies more with her true ethnic Identity as opposed to the enforced identity thrown at her by Nigerians. To suggest that Kemi should change her name is an insult to Kemi’s heritage and a disgrace to all the Yoruba who kept quiet at this time.
Mrs Kemi Badenoch is a professional woman, she carried on her duties as it’s demanded in her job. She doesn’t want to be a poster child of what Nigerians can do because she is not a Nigerian. Nigeria identity is not what defines her, her Yoruba identity is what defines her.
Mr. Shetimma, Kemi ancestors predates Nigeria, she is a descendant of Oduduwa, Oduduwa was not a Nigerian, and Kemi’s name is from Ifa, the Yoruba spirituality holy holy book, the Yoruba identity of Kemi is what defines her, Kemi is not a Nigerians name, Nigeria and Nigerians cannot dictate to her what to do with her name. Vice President of Nigeria have no jurisdiction over Kemi’s name. If you want to launder the image of your country, start from your house and ask your children to do what Mrs. Badenoch has done and you can use them as PR for Nigeria.
Oluwakemi Olufunke Adegoke has brought a great joy to Yorubaland and Yoruba race, she has put our name on pedestal and on the world stage for the world to know our true identity. It is a call for Nigeria to be faithful to herself and give the Nigerians Ethnolinguistic Federalism that was agreed on at independence so people can be proud to associate with Nigeria based on their region if they chosed to Identify at all. A piece of advice to Nigerians from my close friend and brother
“If Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch says she only identifies as a YORUBA -BRITISH, please other ethnic groups within Nigeria must respect her decision.
À ń pe gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà ẹyẹ àkókó ń yọjú”
Dr. Bukola Adeniji
A Yoruba woman from the defunct Western Nigeria, in search of true federalism in Nigeria for Equity and Justice, in search for return of Western Nigeria where the Yoruba identity was preserved regardless of her agreement to be part of Nigeria.
