Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has responded humorously but pointedly to recent remarks by UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, in which she said she no longer identifies as Nigerian.

Badenoch, during an appearance on the Rosebud Podcast, disclosed that she had not renewed her Nigerian passport since the early 2000s, and no longer feels a connection to her ancestral homeland.

Reacting via social media, Senator Sani said if Badenoch is renouncing her Nigerian identity, she should also relinquish her Nigerian name.

“Your name is still ‘Kemi’ and you don’t want to identify as Nigerian, that’s okay,” Sani wrote.
“Just bring back our name. You can change to ‘Kimberly’ or Kim Kardashian.”

Badenoch, who was born in London but spent part of her childhood in Nigeria and the United States, said her decision was influenced by her parents’ belief that there was no future for her in Nigeria due to instability at the time. She added that her immediate family now lives in the UK, which she considers her true home.

Despite her disavowal of a Nigerian identity, Badenoch admitted she remains interested in Nigerian affairs and maintains strong family ties in the country.

Her comments have since sparked wide public reaction, particularly among Nigerians at home and abroad. Critics say her views reflect a growing trend of disconnection by some high-profile figures of African descent, while others argue that national identity is personal and should not be politicized.

The former senator’s witty jab has added to the ongoing debate on dual identity, diaspora nationalism, and what it means to “belong” in an increasingly globalised world.