Former senator Shehu Sani has reacted strongly to comments made by UK politician Kemi Badenoch about Nigerian citizenship laws. He said she should focus on her new country, the United Kingdom, and stop getting involved in Nigeria’s internal issues.

Badenoch, who has Nigerian heritage, recently appeared on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria show. In the interview, she claimed that she cannot pass Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman.

She explained that although she was born in London to Nigerian parents and holds Nigerian citizenship herself, the law doesn’t allow her to transfer it to her children. She also said it’s easier for Nigerians to become British citizens than for foreigners to get Nigerian citizenship.

“It’s almost impossible to become a Nigerian citizen,” she said during the interview. “I only got it through my parents. I can’t give it to my kids because I’m a woman. But many Nigerians come to the UK, stay a while, and get British citizenship. We shouldn’t be naive,” she added.

Senator Shehu Sani did not agree with her comments. He posted his reaction on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He questioned why Badenoch was so concerned about Nigerian citizenship for her children when she has clearly rejected Nigeria in her political life.

“Why is Kemi Badenoch so worried about her children having Nigerian citizenship, when she has already turned her back on Nigeria?” Sani asked.

He ended by saying, “She should enjoy her new home in the UK and let us manage our fatherland in peace.”