Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, has responded strongly to criticism of her remarks on Nigeria from the country’s Vice President.
Speaking out for the first time since the backlash, Badenoch defended her comments, clarifying that she was not acting as a public relations spokesperson for Nigeria.
The criticism came after the Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima, expressed his disapproval of Badenoch’s remarks, which focused on issues in the West African country.
Badenoch, who was born in Wimbledon, England, but grew up in Nigeria, has always been open about her ties to the country.
However, her comments regarding Nigeria’s political and economic challenges have caused a stir, especially with senior officials in the Nigerian government.
Asked about the comments, a spokesperson for Ms Badenoch said she “stands by what she says” and “is not the PR for Nigeria”.
They added: “She is the leader of the opposition and she is very proud of her leadership of the opposition in this country.
“She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She is not going to couch her words.”
The remarks came after Badenoch’s appearance at a conference in London, where she discussed her views on Nigeria’s leadership, economy, and infrastructure.
Critics in Nigeria have not held back in responding, with some accusing her of being too harsh in her assessment of the nation’s progress.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, Vice President Shettima expressed his concern over Badenoch’s comments, calling them “misleading” and “unfortunate.”
Shettima said, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her despite her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin.
He 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.
Her comments have sparked a wider debate about the role of African leaders in addressing the continent’s problems, with some arguing that outside voices like Badenoch’s are necessary to push for accountability, while others say such criticism from foreigners can harm the country’s reputation.
