How Kemi Badenoch’s Father Influenced Her Pro-Yoruba, Anti-Nigeria Identity (Video)

Kemi Badenoch’s strong identification with her Yoruba heritage, as opposed to Nigeria as a whole, is not only a personal perspective but also rooted in the political views of her late father, Dr. Fẹmi Adegoke.

Dr. Adegoke, a prominent Yoruba socio-political leader, openly criticized Nigeria’s political system in his final years, especially the way it marginalized the Yoruba community.

His opinions, shared in a ‘BBC Yoruba’ interview, have provided crucial context for understanding why Kemi has distanced herself from the broader Nigerian identity and instead embraced her Yoruba roots.

Dr. Adegoke’s critique of Nigerian politics was sharp, and it laid the foundation for Kemi’s beliefs. He expressed his disdain for the idea that a Yoruba candidate could bring real change to Nigeria, describing the notion as “foolish.” He said in Yoruba, “For a Yoruba candidate to contest and be voted in in 2023, that by then things will fall in place, is really a foolish statement.” His disillusionment with Nigeria’s political landscape was evident in his reflections on previous administrations, noting the lack of change even with prominent Yoruba leaders at the helm.

He cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo, stating, “Obasanjo is a Yoruba and he ruled for eight years, what did he change? Jonathan, who is also not a Fulani, came and spent six years without anything changing.” Dr. Adegoke’s critique extended to other political figures, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He expressed his disappointment with the vice president’s role, saying, “When people saw that Buhari was making a move that was not beneficial, and advised not to vote for him, some said we should vote for the sake of his vice, Osinbajo, who is a Yoruba. Now that Osinbajo is there, nobody hears him (he’s silenced); he does only what he is instructed to do.”

This sentiment reflects Dr. Adegoke’s view that Yoruba leaders in national politics were often sidelined and unable to effect real change.

Dr. Adegoke also called for a complete overhaul of the country’s political system. He was clear in his message: the 1999 constitution needed to be discarded. He suggested, “The 1999 constitution needs to be thrown to the bush, and let’s sit together and make a better one. That is when everyone will live in peace, whether you are Igbo, Fulani, Hausa, or Yoruba, we will all live peacefully.” This vision of a restructured system reflects Dr. Adegoke’s desire for greater autonomy and respect for ethnic groups, which aligns with Kemi’s own disillusionment with Nigeria’s centralized politics.

In his interview, Dr. Adegoke also criticized Bola Tinubu, pointing out that the Yoruba people had been left to face issues such as kidnapping without adequate action from national leaders. “What has Tinubu done about things happening to the Yorubas in the country, like kidnapping? He has done nothing. All his focus is on Lagos because there’s money there,” Dr. Adegoke remarked. He went further, expressing his support for former PDP leader Bode George’s statement, “Whoever supports Tinubu is really insane and needs a brain check-up,” aligning himself with George’s view that Tinubu had failed to address the needs of the Yoruba community.

Dr. Adegoke’s perspective on the Yoruba people’s struggle also extended to figures like Sunday Igboho, whom he believed was right in his agitation for the Yoruba cause. However, he cautioned that fighting for freedom should be done with wisdom, not violence. “Truly, Sunday Igboho is right in his movement, and his agitation is enough to wake youths up, but one cannot fight it alone. Even if one wants to fight for freedom, it shouldn’t be with cutlass and knife; it is done with wisdom and diplomacy,” he explained. His recognition of Igboho’s cause, but acknowledgment of the limitations of force, reveals a belief in strategic resistance rather than violent confrontation.

Dr. Adegoke also predicted that Nigeria’s political landscape would continue to deteriorate, stating, “One doesn’t need to be a soothsayer before telling that the 2023 election is filled with many lies, and if it continues this way, there might not be anything as Nigeria again in 2023.” This apocalyptic view of the country’s future reflects his growing disenchantment with the system and his call for a new approach.

Dr. Adegoke concluded by emphasizing his belief in a more decentralized system, where every ethnic group could govern itself. He said, “We are not talking about secession, but a system that will allow every tribe to be able to protect itself and govern itself, not a system where one person will be a thousand miles away, and telling us how to wash our gutters and how to send our children to school.” This vision of self-determination for all ethnic groups clearly influenced Kemi Badenoch’s view that her allegiance lies more with her Yoruba roots than with Nigeria as a whole.

Dr. Adegoke’s views on Nigeria’s politics, shared in his ‘BBC Yoruba’ interview, provide essential context for understanding Kemi Badenoch’s personal identification with her Yoruba ethnicity. His criticisms of the political system and his call for a more autonomous Yoruba identity are central to the foundation of her own beliefs, which continue to shape her identity today.

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