Vice President Kashim Shettima has condemned Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected UK Conservative Party leader, for making negative comments about Nigeria. Speaking at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue in Abuja on Monday, Shettima emphasized the crucial role of migrants in all societies.

He stated, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party, we are proud of her despite her efforts to denigrate her country of origin.”

He added, “She is entitled to her opinions; she even has the right to remove ‘Kemi’ from her name, but that doesn’t change the fact that Nigeria is the greatest Black nation on Earth. One out of every three or four Black men is Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous nation, surpassing the United States.”

In 2022, Badenoch faced backlash for her comments about her experiences growing up in Nigeria, highlighting corruption, unfulfilled promises, and poverty. She said, “I grew up in Nigeria and saw firsthand when politicians are in it for themselves, using public funds as their piggybanks, making false promises, and polluting the political atmosphere with their failure to serve others. I saw socialism, poverty, and broken dreams. I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavor can take you anywhere.”