Kemi Badenoch’s Remarks Won’t Impact Nigeria – Presidency

Abuja, Nigeria —  The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed concerns over recent remarks made by UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, asserting that her comments will have no effect on Nigeria.

In her first speech of the year at an event hosted by Onward, a British think tank, Badenoch drew a comparison between governance challenges in Nigeria and the potential risks of ineffective leadership in the United Kingdom. Her remarks aimed to emphasize the need for trust and positioning the Conservative Party as a solution to Britain’s challenges.

Reacting to her statements, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, downplayed their significance during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Monday. He emphasized that Badenoch’s comments are irrelevant to Nigeria’s international relations or its efforts to attract investors.

“I don’t think it would have an effect because she’s not the government in power,” Bwala stated. “International relationships or collaborations are dealings between governments, and since she’s not in power, it will not have any effect.”

Bwala further noted that Badenoch’s Nigerian heritage would prompt investors to critically assess her remarks, suggesting they might view them as rhetoric rather than substantive criticism.

While acknowledging Badenoch’s accomplishments in the UK, Bwala criticized her reliance on populist rhetoric, which he argued feeds on public discontent.

“The issue with Kemi is her rhetoric. She belongs to the right-wing base in the UK, which thrives on populism. She appears to denigrate Nigeria to gain acceptance within her party, and that, to me, is counterproductive,” he remarked.

Drawing a contrast, Bwala referenced UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who, despite his Indian heritage, has avoided using sensitive issues in India as a political tool. He noted that Badenoch’s consistent criticism of Nigeria undermines her credibility.

“She could learn from Rishi Sunak. Even with issues like gang rape in India, he never uses that as a weapon to further his agenda or discredit his heritage. Badenoch, however, continually demarkets Nigeria, which is unfortunate,” Bwala concluded.

By Enoch Odesola| January 20, 2025