Shettima criticises Badenoch for ‘denigrating’ Nigeria, says you can remove ‘Kemi’ from your name

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed disapproval of remarks made by Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, accusing her of speaking unfavorably about her country of origin, Nigeria.

Shettima addressed the issue on Monday during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue held at the State House in Abuja.

While he did not specify the statements attributed to Badenoch, he highlighted the importance of leaders of Nigerian descent reflecting positively on their heritage, regardless of their current affiliations.

The Vice President emphasized that influential figures of Nigerian origin bear a responsibility to promote the country’s image on the global stage, especially in light of the growing diaspora community contributing to global development.

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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 further added, “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 significance on the world stage, 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 address, Shettima also emphasised the key role of migrants in shaping society and contributing to economic growth.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting migrant rights and celebrating their contributions to national development.

In 2022, Badenoch, a UK member of parliament of Nigerian descent, accused Nigerian politicians of misappropriating public funds.

Following her election as the UK Conservative Party leader in November 2024, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) reached out to her office but received no response, according to NIDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.