‘I’m no PR agent for Nigeria’, UK Party leader, Badenoch, defends comment amid criticism from VP Shettima

UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has stood by her remarks about Nigeria following criticism from the country’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima.

The British politician, who was raised in Nigeria, has frequently spoken about her experiences growing up in a country she described as plagued by insecurity and corruption.

Shettima accused Badenoch of denigrating her “nation of origin” during a speech on migration in Abuja. “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,” Shettima said, drawing applause from his audience.

Shettima contrasted Badenoch’s comments with the approach of her predecessor, Rishi Sunak, the UK’s first prime minister of Indian heritage, whom he praised as “a brilliant young man” who “never denigrated his nation of ancestry.”

When asked about the criticism, Badenoch’s spokesperson said she “stands by what she says” and emphasized that she is not a public relations representative for Nigeria.

“She is the leader of the opposition and is very proud of her role in this country,” the spokesperson told reporters. “She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She is not going to couch her words.”

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Born Olukemi Adegoke in Wimbledon, London, in 1980, Badenoch spent much of her childhood in Lagos, Nigeria. She has often drawn on her experiences there to illustrate her political philosophy.

At the Conservative Party conference earlier this year, Badenoch recounted her upbringing in Lagos, describing it as a city where “fear was everywhere.” She spoke of hearing “neighbours scream as they are being burgled and beaten – and wondering if your home will be next.”

Last week, during a visit to the United States, Badenoch referred to Lagos as “a place where almost everything seemed broken.” She has credited these experiences with shaping her conservative ideals and opposition to socialism.

Shettima took issue with Badenoch’s portrayal of Nigeria, suggesting her comments undermined the country’s image. “We are proud of her, in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin,” he said.

It remains unclear which specific statements Shettima was addressing, but Badenoch’s critiques of Nigeria’s governance and infrastructure have been a consistent theme in her speeches and interviews.

Badenoch returned to the UK at the age of 16 to live with a family friend amid Nigeria’s worsening economic and political situation. She completed her education and later married Scottish banker Hamish Badenoch, adopting his surname.

Despite the controversy, Badenoch continues to emphasize that her personal journey, shaped by her upbringing in Nigeria, has been instrumental in her political career and worldview.

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