Shettima Criticizes Kemi Badenoch for ‘Denigrating’ Nigeria

Vice President Kashim Shettima calls out Kemi Badenoch over remarks perceived as disrespectful to Nigeria, sparking diplomatic conversations.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed criticism towards Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected UK Conservative Party leader, for making negative remarks about Nigeria.

He mentioned this on Monday during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue held at the State House in Abuja.

The Vice President stated, “Kemi Badenoch, a leader within either the British Labour or Conservative Party. We take pride in her despite her attempts to disparage her country of origin.”

She’s entitled to her own opinions, and she certainly has the right to remove “Kemi” from her name. However, this does not change the fact that Nigeria remains renowned as a prominent nation in Black history worldwide.

“One in every three or four Black men is Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will support the United States as the third most populous nation on earth.”

The Vice President also emphasized the crucial contributions migrants make to shaping society and driving economic growth.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding migrants’ rights and honoring their legacies and contributions to national development.

In 2022, Badenoch, a UK member of parliament with Nigerian heritage and at that time an aspirant for the position of Prime Minister, accused Nigerian politicians of misappropriating public funds for personal use.

Following her election as leader of the UK Conservative Party in November 2024, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), stated that her office attempted to contact Badenoch but did not receive a reply.