- Vice President Shettima criticised Kemi Badenoch for belittling Nigeria at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue
- Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria as the greatest black nation, despite Badenoch’s controversial remarks
- The Vice President further highlighted Nigeria’s significant global population growth and influence by 2050
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed his disapproval of the UK Conservative Party's new leader, Kemi Badenoch, for her negative comments about Nigeria.
He stated that she could remove "Kemi" from her name, but it wouldn't change the undeniable fact that Nigeria is the greatest black nation in the world.
Shettima defends Nigeria, responds to Badenoch claim
Shettima made this statement on Monday, December 9, during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja.
The statement read, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin.
“She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name but that does not underscore the fact that the greatest black nation on earth is the nation called Nigeria,” the Vice President stated.
Recall that in 2022, Badenoch, a United Kingdom Member of Parliament of Nigerian heritage and a former UK Prime Minister candidate, accused Nigerian politicians of misappropriating public funds for personal gain.
Shettima highlights Nigeria's rising global influence
Following her election as UK Conservative Party leader in November 2024, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), revealed that her office had contacted Badenoch but received no reply.
Speaking further, the Vice President said, “One out of every three, four black men is a Nigerian and by 2050, Nigeria will surpass the United States, will be the third most populous nation on earth.”
He pointed out the significant influence of migrants on societal and economic progress, reaffirming the government's pledge to protect their rights and celebrate their contributions to the country's development.
Meet Alaba, Osamor, 4 other Nigerians who won seats in 2024 UK election
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the 2024 UK elections ended the 14 years of Conservative leadership in the country.
According to the report, the polls also saw the re-election of some candidates of Nigerian descent.