Dabiri-Erewa Faults Badenoch\u2019s Claim On Nigerian Citizenship For Her Children
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The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has criticised United Kingdom Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, over her recent claim that Nigerian law prevents her from passing citizenship to her children because she is a woman.<\/strong><\/p>\n Dabiri-Erewa, speaking as a guest on Channels Television\u2019s Hard Copy<\/em>, described Badenoch\u2019s remarks as \u201cmisleading\u201d and \u201centirely untrue.\u201d<\/p>\n She argued that Badenoch\u2019s claim was against Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which says a person born outside Nigeria qualifies for citizenship if either parent is a Nigerian citizen.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that is not true. Don\u2019t divulge false information. You go on international media and spin a lie \u2014 that is a lie \u2014 that is not even true. And I\u2019m sure people have responded,\u201d she said on Friday.<\/p>\n The diaspora chairman argued that denigrating one\u2019s country publicly must be challenged, and while Nigeria supports its diaspora, no one can be forced to love their homeland.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not true, so why tell us something that is not true? Do you know the number of Nigerians we have in the UK in the political space who are doing very well? We don\u2019t have to focus on one person, but when you denigrate your country, we reply to you.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not about me, or the President, or you \u2014 it\u2019s about Nigeria. You can\u2019t lie about your country, and then we keep quiet. There are many who are doing very well politically. So ours is to continue to work with every Nigerian in the diaspora, but you can\u2019t force anybody,\u201d Dabiri-Erewa said.<\/p>\n