Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservative Party leader, has defended her remarks about Nigeria following criticism from Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima. Shettima accused Badenoch of disrespecting her heritage, sparking a heated public exchange.
Born in Wimbledon in 1980 to Nigerian parents, Badenoch spent much of her childhood in Lagos before moving to the United States and later to the UK at the age of 16.
She has frequently spoken about her experiences growing up in Nigeria, often highlighting the challenges she faced. At a recent event, she described Nigeria as a nation struggling with corruption, instability, and widespread fear.
On Monday, Shettima suggested that Badenoch might consider dropping the Nigerian part of her name if she does not feel pride in her heritage. “Remove the Kemi from her name,” he remarked, criticizing her for what he perceived as an attempt to tarnish the image of her country of origin.
In response, Badenoch’s spokesperson defended her comments, stating, “She is not Nigeria’s public relations representative” and emphasizing her dedication to her role in the UK. The spokesperson added, “She speaks the truth and will not soften her words.”
Shettima compared Badenoch’s attitude to that of Rishi Sunak, the UK’s first prime minister of Indian descent, praising Sunak for maintaining pride in his Indian heritage. Despite his criticism, Shettima acknowledged that Nigeria remains proud of Badenoch.
Badenoch’s childhood experiences in Nigeria have significantly shaped her political views. At the Conservative Party conference earlier this year, she described Lagos as a city where “fear was everywhere.” Last week, during a visit to the US, she called her hometown “a place where almost everything seemed broken.”
