The Presidency has dismissed remarks made by Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservative Party leader, criticizing Nigeria, stating that her comments have no bearing on the nation’s growth or its international relations.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala accused Badenoch of using inflammatory rhetoric to gain political traction within her party.
Badenoch, a British politician of Nigerian descent, recently delivered a speech at an event organized by the think tank Onward, where she described Nigeria as a country plagued by governmental failure. The comments were perceived as a direct critique of her country of origin.
Reacting to her statements, Bwala said, “Kemi belongs to the right-wing base in the UK, where populism thrives on feeding the frustrations of the public. She’s building a rhetoric that denigrates Nigeria to appeal to the conservatives in her party. But this approach is counterproductive.”
He further drew comparisons between Badenoch and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is of Indian heritage, highlighting how Sunak refrains from publicly criticizing issues in his ancestral homeland to promote his political agenda.
Bwala dismissed concerns that Badenoch’s statements could deter foreign investors from Nigeria, stating, “Her rhetoric won’t affect Nigeria. She is not in government, and international relations are handled at the governmental level. Investors are capable of discerning whether her comments are politically motivated or grounded in reality.”
He emphasized that such remarks should not be allowed to overshadow Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to attract investment and promote development, urging Nigerians to focus on the country’s potential rather than divisive rhetoric.
