Wednesday, July 15, 2026

I ‘rejected God’ for answering my stupid prayers: Kemi Badenoch

Mrs Badenoch said, “I would still define myself as a cultural Christian.”

• August 8, 2025
Kemi Badenoch (Credit: UK Guardian)
Kemi Badenoch (Credit: UK Guardian)

Leader of UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, said she lost her faith in God when she realised her stupid prayers were answered while God delayed answering the prayer of someone in captivity for over two decades.

Mrs Badenoch, in an interview with BBC on Thursday, said she ‘rejected God’ but remained a Christian after watching the story of Josef Fritzl, the Australian man who kept his daughter captive for 24 years in a dungeon underground in his house.

“I couldn’t stop reading this story. And I read her account, how she prayed every day to be rescued. And I thought, I was praying for all sorts of stupid things, and I was getting my prayers answered,” Mrs Badenoch said.

She stated, “I was praying to have good grades, my hair should grow longer, and I would pray for the bus to come on time so I wouldn’t miss something. It’s like, why were those prayers answered, and not this woman’s prayers? And it was like someone blew out a candle.”

The Tory leader added, “I rejected God, not Christianity. So, I would still define myself as a cultural Christian.”

Mrs Badenoch also recounted in the interview how she reported her classmate cheating in an exam but got no “praise” for it.

Forty-five-year-old Mrs Badenoch’s submission last week that she was no longer a Nigerian elicited from many Nigerians.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Released Oyo hostages

Ibadan

Oyo Terrorists: ASNAT hails Oriire schoolchildren’s military rescue operation

The Association of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian military for rescuing abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state.

LGEA Primary School, Allor

States

Navy reaffirms commitment to national development through civil-military relations

Nigerian Navy chief Idi Abbas has reaffirmed commitment to national development through strengthened civil-military relations and sustainable community development initiatives.

Gov Okpebholo signs Edo agriculture college bill

Agriculture

Gov Okpebholo signs Edo agriculture college bill

The new law changes the institution’s name from Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to Edo State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology.

ADC, Accord Party, APP, AA, ZLP

NationWide

De-registration of ADC, Accord Party, APP, AA, ZLP: Appeal Court reserves judgement

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in appeals challenging the Federal High Court’s decision ordering INEC to deregister five opposition political parties.

The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians

Diaspora

Nigerian diaspora community says Jimoh Ibrahim’s appointment yielding results

The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians applauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s UN ambassador.

Adebo Ogundoyin

States

School Abduction: Oyo assembly backs Gov Makinde’s call for international investigation

The lawmaker cautioned the public and the Nigerian Senate against misinterpreting the purpose of the state governor’s call for an international investigation.