Britain's main opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch addressed the House of Commons during the Prime Minister's Questions session in central London on December 4, 2024. — AFP

Nigerians on social media have engaged in a heated debate over the head of Britain's Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, who was born in London to Nigerian parents but raised in Lagos. Following the vice-president's criticism of her, Badenoch, a Conservative MP since 2017, became the party's leader in November after campaigning on a right-wing platform advocating 'anti-wokeism' and making sometimes contentious remarks. She has frequently criticized Nigeria for its widespread corruption and unstable security situation. On immigration, she has stated that 'not all cultures are equally valid' when determining who should be allowed to live in the UK.

'We are proud of her in spite of her denigrating her nation of origin,' said Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima during a migration summit in Abuja on Monday. 'She's 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's remarks sparked a wave of reactions on social media, both in support of and against his stance. 'Kashim Shettima, instead of dragging Kemi Badenoch, fix Nigeria!' wrote X user Ifeanyi Onuoha. 'While you and your boss jet-set achieving nothing, Nigerian citizens struggle daily. Kemi's leadership outshines your entire regime; she's a leader; you're just a tourist.' Another user, Nnaemeka Edeh, commented, 'Stop hounding Kemi Badenoch. Nigeria became the greatest black corrupt nation on earth not any fault of Kemi.'

However, some praised Shettima for his comments. 'This is my Vice President!!! The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! I and my descendants will always be proud to be Nigerians no matter where we go!' said user IbibioPrince on X.

Badenoch, who advocates for a return to conservative values, has often stirred controversy with her critical views of the country where she was raised. 'I grew up in Nigeria and I saw firsthand what happens when politicians are in it for themselves,' she once stated. 'I saw poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.'

Her stance has also drawn sharp criticism. 'She should stop being stupid by denigrating Nigeria all the time just to please her slave masters,' Omo Oduduwa wrote.

In response to the controversy, a spokesman for Badenoch told British media: 'Kemi is not trying to promote Nigeria, she is the leader of the opposition in the UK'.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com