A public debate over heritage and self-identification has erupted after Nigerian-born Dutch businessman Dr. Wiebe Boer criticised UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch for stating she no longer identifies as Nigerian.
Boer, who spent his formative years in Nigeria before acquiring Dutch citizenship, said Badenoch’s stance sends a “deeply problematic” message about cultural roots and representation. His comments, posted Friday on LinkedIn, argue that national identity can transcend geography and citizenship.
Badenoch — born in London to Nigerian parents — revealed on the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandreth that she had not renewed her Nigerian passport in over 20 years and no longer considered Nigeria part of her identity. “I’m Nigerian through ancestry, by birth, but by identity I’m not really,” she said, noting that while she has family ties and familiarity with the country, she does not personally claim it.
Boer responded by contrasting her remarks with the approach of other global leaders. “I’ve never heard Obama disown Kenya or Indonesia. I’ve never heard Sunak distance himself from his Indian or East African roots,” he wrote, adding that Nigerian influence in the UK — from sports to finance — is “more relevant than ever.”
He cited the global achievements of England footballers Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze; actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cynthia Erivo; boxing champion Anthony Joshua; and Booker Prize winner Ben Okri, as well as the economic footprint of Nigerian-led firms such as Helios Investment Partners and Seplat Energy.
“You can critique a country without renouncing it,” Boer wrote. “Choosing to distance yourself from Nigeria sends a message… I will always claim Nigeria. Every day, everywhere.”
The exchange has sparked wider conversations about what it means for public figures to navigate multiple identities — and the influence such choices can have on communities that share their heritage.
