VP Shettima slams UK’s Kemi Badenoch for allegedly disparaging Nigeria

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has criticized Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, for her disparaging comments about Nigeria.

Shettima’s remarks came during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja on Monday.

The VP’s comments were in response to Badenoch’s 2022 statement, in which she accused Nigerian politicians of misusing public funds for personal gain.

Despite attempts by the Nigerian government to reach out to her after her election as UK Conservative Party leader in November 2024, Badenoch reportedly did not respond.

During his speech, Shettima emphasized that Nigerians are proud of Badenoch’s achievements, despite her efforts to denigrate her country of origin.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s significance, stating that one in every three or four Black people is Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous nation on earth.

Kemi Adegoke Badenoch is a British politician. Born in London and raised in Nigeria, returning to Britain when she was 16.

Kemi previously had served at the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and in November became the first Black woman and the fourth woman to lead a major UK party.

In her first parliamentary speech, in 2017, she declared, “To all intents and purposes, I am a first-generation immigrant.”

Ironically, she will now lead a party that has struck an increasingly harsh tone on immigration, a shift that mirrors her own changed views on the subject.

For those familiar with Kemi Badenoch’s track record, her recent statement comes as no surprise.

She has a history of downplaying centuries of historical exploitation with a casualness that’s become a hallmark of her political persona.

This tendency has led to criticism from various quarters, with many accusing her of being insensitive to the experiences of marginalized communities.

Badenoch’s political career has been marked by controversy, from her comments on Brexit and immigration to her views on social justice and equality.