Vice President Kashim Shettima has responded to remarks made by Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK Conservative Party, describing them as disparaging toward Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja, Shettima expressed both pride in Badenoch’s achievements and disappointment in her comments about her country of origin.
He said, “Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British Conservative Party we are proud of her despite her efforts to denigrate her nation of origin. She is entitled to her opinions, even her right to remove ‘Kemi’ from her name, but that does not negate the fact that Nigeria is the greatest Black nation on earth.”
The Vice President emphasized Nigeria’s prominence, noting, “One in every three or four Black people is a Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous nation on earth, alongside the United States.”
Shettima also highlighted the significant contributions of migrants globally, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding migrants’ rights while celebrating their legacies and contributions to national development.
Badenoch, 44, who was born in Wimbledon but spent her childhood in Nigeria before returning to the UK as a teenager, has faced criticism for comments she made in a Mail Online interview. She described her upbringing in Nigeria as filled with “tales of horror,” recounting fears of night-time attacks and asserting she did not want the UK to become like the country she left behind.
She stated, “I will always be grateful for being lucky enough to be born here. It was very much fate, and I would do anything for this country I would go to war for this country, I would fight for this country. I would die for this country. This is my country. I love it the way it is. I don’t want it to become like the place I ran away from.”
Shettima’s remarks come amid growing debates over migration narratives and national identity, with the Vice President urging balanced perspectives that honor Nigeria’s global contributions and potential.
