Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has reaffirmed her critical remarks about Nigeria, despite backlash from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who accused her of disparaging the country.
Badenoch, born in the UK and raised in Nigeria, has often described her childhood in Nigeria as marked by fear and insecurity in a nation struggling with corruption.
Earlier, Badenoch had criticized the country, stating, “I grew up in Nigeria and witnessed the consequences of self-serving politicians who treated public funds as their personal assets, tarnishing the political landscape with their lack of service to the people.
“I saw the harsh realities of socialism for millions—poverty and shattered dreams. I moved to Britain to build a life in a country where hard work and integrity could take you anywhere.”
In response, Vice President Shettima accused Badenoch of speaking negatively about Nigeria, contrasting her with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who, according to him, has never criticized his ancestral homeland, India. He also suggested that Badenoch should consider changing her first name if she no longer wished to identify with her Nigerian roots.
When asked about Shettima’s remarks, a spokesperson for Badenoch stated that she stands firmly by her comments and is not interested in “doing PR for Nigeria.”
“As leader of the opposition, she takes pride in her role and speaks the truth as she sees it. She won’t sugarcoat her words and remains steadfast in her views,” the spokesperson added.