“You Can Remove ‘Kemi’ From Your Name – VP Shettima Slams UK Conservative Leader Badenoch for Denigrating Nigeria”
By Okafor Joseph Afam
December 10, 2024
Vice President Kashim Shettima has accused Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the United Kingdom Conservative Party, of disparaging Nigeria, her country of origin. He made the remarks on Monday at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue held at the State House in Abuja.
In his address, Shettima said, “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.”
He went on to add, “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 highlighted Nigeria’s global importance, stating, “One out of every three, four black men is a Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will support the United States and will be the third most populous nation on earth.”
In his broader remarks, Shettima celebrated the role of migrants, noting their contributions to societal progress and economic growth. He reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to protecting the rights of migrants and acknowledging their positive impact on national development.
The comments come in the wake of past criticisms from Badenoch, a British MP of Nigerian descent. In 2022, she accused Nigerian politicians of misappropriating public funds, a statement that sparked debate within Nigerian and diaspora communities.
Since her election as UK Conservative Party leader in November 2024, attempts by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to establish contact with her have reportedly been met with silence. NIDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that her office had reached out but received no response.
Shettima’s comments underscore the complexities of identity, loyalty, and perception within the diaspora community and highlight Nigeria’s determination to assert its global influence amid these debates.
