Vice President Shettima Responds to Kemi Badenoch’s Criticism of Nigeria
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Vice President Kashim Shettima has publicly criticized Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, accusing her of disparaging Nigeria, her country of origin. Shettima’s comments came during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue held at the State House in Abuja on Monday.
Shettima expressed pride in Badenoch’s achievements but rebuked her for what he described as her attempts to denigrate Nigeria. “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party, we are proud of her despite her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin,” Shettima said.
While acknowledging Badenoch’s right to her opinions, he defended Nigeria’s global standing, stating, “She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name, but that does not undermine the fact that the greatest black nation on earth is Nigeria.” He also highlighted Nigeria’s significance, noting, “One out of every three or four black men is a Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous nation on earth, surpassing the United States.”
Shettima also stressed the vital role of migrants in shaping global societies and driving economic growth, reaffirming the Nigerian government’s commitment to protecting migrant rights and acknowledging their contributions to national development.
The remarks were likely a reference to Badenoch’s previous criticism in 2022, where she accused Nigerian politicians of mismanaging public funds. Following her election as Conservative Party leader in November 2024, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) attempted to contact Badenoch’s office but reportedly received no response, according to NIDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
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