Vice President Kashim Shettima has criticized Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected UK Conservative Party leader, for making disparaging comments about Nigeria.
During his speech at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja on Monday, Shettima emphasized the importance of migrants to societies worldwide, asserting that they are an essential source of life.
He remarked, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party, is someone we are proud of, despite her efforts to denigrate her country of origin. She is entitled to her own opinions; she even has the right to remove ‘Kemi’ from her name, but that doesn’t change the fact that Nigeria is the greatest Black nation on earth.”
Shettima further noted Nigeria’s global significance, stating, “One out of every three or four Black men is Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populous nation on Earth, surpassing the United States.”
AFRIPOST reports that Badenoch previously came under fire in 2022 for comments she made about her experiences growing up in Nigeria, where she criticized issues like corruption, unfulfilled promises, and poverty. She described witnessing firsthand the self-serving nature of politicians, the misuse of public funds, and the pervasive poverty and disillusionment she encountered.
Badenoch expressed that she moved to Britain seeking a better future, where hard work and integrity could offer greater opportunities.