Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, stirred controversy following her remarks about Nigeria's northern tribe.

Badenoch, in an interview with the Spectator, a weekly British political and cultural news magazine, said she identifies more with her Yoruba ethnic group than with the Nigerian entity.

This statement comes weeks after she criticized Nigeria’s governance terrain and society, which triggered a backlash and reignited debates over her ties to the country.

In a chat with the Spectator, Badenoch said she had nothing in common with people from northern Nigeria, a region Vice-President Shettima hails from, adding that she is proud of her Yoruba ancestry, which has given her a very strong identity.

“I find it interesting that everybody defines me as being Nigerian. I identify less with the country than with the specific ethnicity (Yoruba). That’s what I really am.

“I have nothing in common with the people from the north of the country, the Boko Haram area, where Islamism is. Those were our ethnic enemies, and yet you end up being lumped in with those people.

“Somebody once told me when I was very young that my surname was a name for people who were warriors,” she said.

Reacting to her depiction of Nigeria, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, told her that Nigeria does not need her.

In a lengthy post on his social media pages, he accused Badenoch of pushing dangerous rhetoric that could stir a storm she cannot contain.

"This is dangerous rhetoric coming from an impudent and ignorant foreign leader who knows nothing about our country, who does not know her place, and who insists on stirring up a storm that she cannot contain and that may eventually consume her," excerpts of his post read.

Rufai Oseni, a co-host on Arise News, condemned Kemi for pushing the "ethnic card," stating that he doesn't want any of it. "Kemi just played a very terrible ethnic card which I condemn. I don’t have any tribal enemies. I don’t know what Kemi is drinking, but I don’t want any of it."

Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, described her utterances and moves as "unintelligent," explaining that the UK needs Nigeria as much as Nigeria needs the UK.

He said in excerpts of his post, "Kemi Badenoch bad-mouthing Nigeria is just an unintelligent political move. You have already won the Conservative Party leadership contest. You are now the party leader. Your position is secure. You do not need to schmooze the British establishment by disdaining your Black African roots, even if you are married to a White Briton."

"You are the head of a party in opposition. You should be looking for votes. Politics is about addition, not subtraction. There are almost 300,000 Nigerians in the UK. Most of whom can vote. The figure is closer to a million when you add other sub-Saharan Africans."

"Your party needs their votes because regular working-class White English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish people are more likely to vote for a politician who looks like them than one who looks like Kemi Badenoch. It is a sad reality of British life that Rishi Sunak knew only too well."

"The United Kingdom also needs the trade from their home nations. Nigeria grew at 3.46% this past quarter. Britain grew at only 0.1%. They need us more than Nigeria needs them."

Born to Nigerian Yoruba parents in the UK, Badenoch’s last name changed after she married a Scottish banker.

She returned and grew up in Nigeria, and finally left Nigeria for the UK when she turned 16 years old.

Badenoch had described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity, a statement which sparked many reactions.

Recall that Vice-President Kashim Shettima faulted her over the comment, urging her to change her first name if she no longer wants to identify with her homeland.