Kemi’s Therapy: Nigeria’s Bitter Pill for Progress, by John Egbeazien Oshodi

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s current President, and Kashim Shettima, the Vice President, helm the leadership of a nation grappling with deep systemic issues. Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor, ascended to the presidency with promises of renewal and development. Shettima, a former Governor of Borno State known for his tenure during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, now serves as his deputy, tasked with navigating Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges.

Their administration inherited a country riddled with corruption, poor governance, ethnic and religious tensions, and economic instability. Despite their pledges to bring about change, controversies have continued to mar their leadership, from issues of transparency and accountability to allegations of nepotism and mismanagement.

In this climate of uncertainty, Kemi Badenoch, a British politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party since November 2024, and of Nigerian Yoruba descent, has delivered scathing critiques of Nigeria’s governance. Her remarks, though harsh, shine a spotlight on the systemic failures and contradictions that have hindered Nigeria’s progress. Badenoch’s critiques, which this write-up frames as “Kemi’s Therapy,” seem to offer a painful but necessary diagnosis of the country’s ailments under Tinubu, Shettima, and beyond.

What I Term Kemi Therapy

Shettima, in his state of unhappiness over what he perceives as Kemi Badenoch’s denigration of Nigeria, suggested she drop the name “Kemi.” However, the only meaningful way to drop it is for Nigeria to embrace the thoughts and feelings of change that Kemi Therapy seems to embody—challenging the entrenched corruption mentality of the average Nigerian. This relentless call for reform, accountability, and transformation is what I term Kemi Therapy.

Exposing Institutional Abuse and the Culture of Negativity

Kemi Therapy critiques Nigeria’s institutional abuse and its troubling culture of shielding the powerful while vilifying the vulnerable. The case of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu is a stark example. Accused of organ trafficking in the United Kingdom, the case revealed Nigeria’s systemic failures, including manipulated narratives, flawed immigration processes, and the judiciary’s inability to prioritize justice.

Instead of addressing the real legal and ethical issues, Nigerian institutions attempted to discredit the victim by questioning biodata, age, and identity, creating distractions to shield the powerful. Kemi Therapy highlights a painful truth: had this case unfolded in Nigeria, the victim would likely have become the defendant, while the powerful escaped accountability.

The London court’s decision, which resulted in prison sentences for Ekweremadu, his wife, and the collaborating doctor, serves as a stark reminder of what accountability looks like in functional systems. Kemi Therapy insists that Nigeria confront its institutional failures, prioritize truth and justice, and abandon its culture of impunity.

Ethnic and Religious Favoritism in Leadership

Kemi Therapy critiques Nigeria’s persistent tribalism and religious favoritism, which foster exclusionary governance. Under Muhammadu Buhari, appointments were overwhelmingly skewed toward individuals of specific tribes and religions, alienating significant portions of the population.

Despite promises of change, the Tinubu administration has struggled to break these patterns. Kemi Therapy warns that Shettima’s unique history as a Sharia governor could perpetuate such practices should he ascend to higher office. For Nigeria to progress, governance must be grounded in competence, inclusivity, and meritocracy.

Sharia Contradictions and Human Dignity

Kemi Therapy appears to challenge the compatibility of constitutional democracy with harsh Sharia punishments such as amputations and stoning, which negatively impact Nigeria’s moral reputation on the world stage. These inconsistencies reveal deep-rooted issues in governance that need to be addressed in order to uphold the values of justice, equality, and humanity.

Endless Pretrial Detentions and Medical Negligence

Kemi Therapy exposes Nigeria’s broken justice and healthcare systems, where thousands languish in pretrial detention, and hospitals delay emergency care due to bureaucratic demands for police reports. These failures prioritize inefficiency over humanity, leading to preventable deaths and injustices.

Kemi Therapy for Better Policing

Kemi therapy focuses on the police’s efforts to promote positive news globally, rather than highlighting instances of officers accepting bribes from drivers, stealing from the public, assisting in ballot box theft, and turning complainants into defendants. It also addresses the issue of officers soliciting complainants for writing materials, fuel for police vehicles, and money for food.

Hoarding COVID-19 Palliatives: A Betrayal of Trust

The mishandling of COVID-19 palliatives symbolizes Nigeria’s governance crisis. Reports of hoarded relief materials intended for vulnerable citizens sparked outrage, revealing systemic neglect and mismanagement. Kemi Therapy demands that leadership rebuild trust through transparency, accountability, and ethical governance.

Addressing Domestic/Sexual Violence, Marginalization, and Exploitation

Kemi Therapy sheds light on the systemic mistreatment faced by girls and women, including unequal treatment in various environments, such as educators demanding sexual favors in exchange for grades and politicians exploiting women seeking opportunities. This urgent call for change underscores the necessity for policies that safeguard women, hold perpetrators accountable, and foster safe spaces for women to flourish. Kemi Therapy stands against the marginalization of women, as highlighted by troubling comments made in the Senate, where leadership suggests that it is only “women’s day” when women address issues relevant to them, similar to how male senators do, while men rarely encounter the same derogatory treatment. Women are commonly highlighted in a Senate that is predominantly male.

Rejecting Military Overreach in Civilian Matters

Kemi Therapy condemns the misuse of military power in civilian matters. Soldiers detaining and brutalizing civilians undermines democracy and accountability. Nigeria must enforce a strict separation between military and civilian roles to uphold the rule of law.

Kemi Therapy for a Better Nigeria

Kemi Badenoch’s therapy advocates for a Nigeria rooted in justice, accountability, and unity. It calls for:

Electoral reforms to secure free and fair elections.

Judicial integrity that prioritizes justice for all, not just the privileged.

Leadership accountability to combat corruption and protect the vulnerable.

Healthcare and justice reform to value human dignity and fairness.

Kemi Therapy insists that Nigeria can only progress by confronting its systemic contradictions, abandoning impunity, and embracing ethical governance that serves its people.

Conclusion: Kemi’s Therapy for a Better Nigeria

Kemi Badenoch’s unapologetic critiques are not an attack on Nigeria but a demand for a better, more just, and accountable nation. Her words serve as a mirror reflecting Nigeria’s failures, compelling its leaders and citizens to confront the painful truths that have crippled progress for decades.

This is not about humiliation or denigration—it is a wake-up call for a country grappling with corruption, tribalism, impunity, and systemic dysfunction. Kemi Therapy challenges Nigeria to rise above its defensive posture, discard the false pride that shields dysfunction, and embrace the reforms necessary for a brighter future. The therapy is bitter, but so is the disease it seeks to cure.

Kemi’s message is for every Nigerian—politicians, civil servants, military personnel, law enforcement officials, corporate elites, students, religious figures, and everyday citizens alike. Kemi Therapy does not target the innocent or the powerless; rather, it demands accountability from those in leadership and those complicit in enabling a broken system. A Nigeria that silences truth-tellers will never heal, and a system that protects the powerful while crushing the vulnerable will never know peace.

However, there is no need to continue for now. The Kemi Therapy sessions come to an end—not because the work is done, but because the truth has been spoken. There are far too many deep, chronic, and recurring crises in Nigeria—ones that Kemi Therapy alone cannot address. Corruption, misgovernance, impunity, and systemic injustice run so deep that no singular voice or session can resolve them all.

It must also be said that some of Kemi’s words, while grounded in truth, might appear culturally denigrating—something she must learn to avoid. Critique must remain focused on reform, not on alienating an entire culture. Nigeria’s dysfunction is not unique to its people, but history has shown that outsiders, especially former colonial powers, are quick to exploit moments like these. Old colonial masters might point fingers and smugly declare, “See how a Black person denigrates an entire culture.” This is a dangerous distraction, one that undermines the core message of the therapy itself. Kemi must remain focused on her mission and avoid inadvertently playing into such divisive narratives.

The truth, as bitter as it is, has been delivered. Nigerians—particularly those in positions of power—are often far too defensive. When confronted with their own failings, they resort to endless arguments, petitions, manipulation, and outright attacks on the messenger. Instead of reflecting and embracing change, they waste time muddying the waters, weaponizing sentimentality, and orchestrating campaigns to silence those who speak truth to power.

Should Kemi continue, they will escalate their tactics. They will target her Nigerian roots, seek out her family and relatives, and fabricate sentimental complaints to divert attention. This is who they are. It is a deeply ingrained cultural flaw—defensiveness that refuses to accept accountability.

Badenoch must end the sessions here. Further engagement will serve no purpose other than to drag her name into the mud—a distraction that only benefits those resistant to change. The truth has already touched its mark, and those who are willing to embrace it will find a path to reform. For the rest, history will remember their defiance as the chains that held Nigeria back.

Kemi Therapy has shone a harsh light on Nigeria’s wounds, forcing an uncomfortable but necessary reckoning. The work is not done, but the truth remains. Kemi’s voice has challenged a nation to rise above defensiveness, reject dysfunction, and embrace the reforms it so desperately needs.

Through Kemi therapy, you have effectively conveyed your thoughts to support Nigerians, influenced by your Nigerian heritage and Yoruba background. Now, it’s your moment to take the lead as the head of the Conservative Party in the UK. It’s their responsibility to accept the difficult but crucial insights offered through Kemi’s therapy. Utilize your time wisely, as you have significant goals to accomplish in the UK.

For now, the therapy ends, leaving Nigerians to decide whether to confront the truth or continue living in denial. Kemi Therapy has spoken—what happens next is up to Nigeria.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, is an American-based police and prison scientist, forensic/clinical psychologist, public policy psychologist, and legal psychologist. He’s a government advisor on forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA and the founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation for Psychological Health. With a significant role in introducing forensic psychology to Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, he’s also a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. He’s taught at esteemed institutions like Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and more, and is currently an online faculty member at ISCOM University, Weldios University and Walden University.