https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241211/nigerian-vice-president-slams-uk-conservative-leader-of-nigerian-descent-for-denigrating-homeland-1069656563.html
Nigerian Vice President Slams UK Conservative Leader of Nigerian Descent for Denigrating Homeland
Nigerian Vice President Slams UK Conservative Leader of Nigerian Descent for Denigrating Homeland
Sputnik Africa
The criticism comes as Kemi Badenoch, who has been a Tory leader since November 2, previously accused her home country of political mismanagement, as well as... 11.12.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-12-11T12:53+0100
2024-12-11T12:53+0100
2024-12-11T14:34+0100
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Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima criticized UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch for denigrating her mother country.Badenoch, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, grew up in Lagos until the age of 16 and has lived in the UK ever since; she reportedly identifies strongly with UK values despite her Nigerian heritage and regularly contrasts her experiences of relative freedom and security in the UK with the fear and economic hardship she witnessed in Nigeria during her upbringing.The Nigerian vice president also acknowledged Badenoch's right to her opinions but emphasized Nigeria's significant global influence and population growth projections.Shettima contrasted Badenoch's disparaging her country of origin with Nigeria's importance on the world stage.According to the British media, when questioned about Shettima's remarks, a Badenoch representative stated that "Kemi is not interested in doing Nigeria’s PR; she is the leader of the opposition in the UK."
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nigeria, united kingdom (uk), west africa, europe, accusations, abuja, migration, migrants, population, population growth, relationship, bilateral relations, traditions, traditional values
nigeria, united kingdom (uk), west africa, europe, accusations, abuja, migration, migrants, population, population growth, relationship, bilateral relations, traditions, traditional values
Nigerian Vice President Slams UK Conservative Leader of Nigerian Descent for Denigrating Homeland
12:53 11.12.2024 (Updated: 14:34 11.12.2024) Alla Shukanova
Writer / Editor
The criticism comes as Kemi Badenoch, who has been a Tory leader since November 2, previously accused her home country of political mismanagement, as well as amid a general lack of response from her office to the Nigerian outreach, according to local media.
Nigerian Vice President
Kashim Shettima criticized UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch for denigrating her mother country.
"Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labor or Conservative Party. We are proud of her despite her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin," he said during the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in the capital, Abuja.
Badenoch, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, grew up in Lagos until the age of 16 and has lived in the UK ever since; she reportedly identifies strongly with UK values despite her Nigerian heritage and regularly contrasts her experiences of relative freedom and security in the UK with the fear and economic hardship she witnessed in Nigeria during her upbringing.
"I was lucky in my experiences. I was born to a relatively wealthy family and had a decent education. But I also know what it is like to be poor. I watched my family become poor as their wealth, income and savings were inflated away by destructive government policies," she said at the International Democracy Unionon Forum in Washington on Monday.
The Nigerian vice president also acknowledged Badenoch's right to her opinions but emphasized Nigeria's significant global influence and population growth projections.
"She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the "Kemi" [a female name in the West African Yoruba language] from her name, but that does not [undermine] the fact that the greatest black nation on earth is the nation called Nigeria," Shettima noted.
Shettima contrasted Badenoch's disparaging her country of origin with Nigeria's importance on the world stage.
"One out of every three, four black men is a Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will surpass the US [the population] and will be the third most populous nation on Earth," he pointed out.
According to the British media, when questioned about Shettima's remarks, a Badenoch representative stated that "Kemi is not interested in doing Nigeria’s PR; she is the leader of the opposition in the UK."
