Vice President Kashim Shettima has taken a strong stance against Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK Conservative Party, following her critical remarks about Nigeria. Speaking at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja, Shettima highlighted the value of migrants and expressed disappointment over Badenoch’s comments.
Shettima emphasized the significance of Nigeria on the global stage, declaring it “the greatest Black nation on earth.” He stated, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party—we are proud of her despite her attempts to denigrate her nation of origin. She is entitled to her opinions and even has the right to remove ‘Kemi’ from her name. But the fact remains: 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, supporting the United States in population size.”
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Badenoch’s remarks, made in 2022, resurfaced following her recent political elevation. In her statements, she painted a grim picture of her experiences growing up in Nigeria, citing corruption, unfulfilled promises, and poverty. “I grew up in Nigeria and saw firsthand when politicians are in it for themselves. They use private money as their piggybanks and pollute the political atmosphere with their failures to serve others. I saw poverty and broken dreams,” she said.
She also contrasted her Nigerian upbringing with her opportunities in the UK, stating, “I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Shettima’s response has ignited a wave of debate on X, with many urging Nigerian politicians to change their way, shun corruption and embrace development projects that could stem the tide of massive migration of the country’s top talents.
