Kashim Shettima makes huge blunder against Kemi Badenoch

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima takes things too far with Kemi Badenoch in his criticism of the UK Conservative Party leader.

During the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue in Abuja, the Vice President picked issues with the politician following her recent criticism of her Nigerian heritage that earned the ire of a lot of Nigerians on the internet.

However, in an effort to justify national pride in Nigeria, the Vice President made a diplomatic misstep in his criticism of Kemi Badenoch.

In his address, Kashim Shettima over-exaggerated Nigeria’s growing global significance, by using its ever growing population as a national pride in projecting Nigeria as the “greatest black nation on earth.”

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Kashim Shettima talks tough, fires back at Kemi Badenoch

He pointed to its expected population boom by 2050 as evidence of its inevitable rise.

While his defense of Nigeria’s potential is admirable, his rhetoric seems to oversimplify the issue and sidesteps the genuine criticisms Badenoch made about corruption—a systemic problem Nigeria continues to grapple with. This is a problem that threatens the very population the Vice President holds pride in.

Shettima’s suggestion that Badenoch “remove the Kemi from her name,” personalized what should have been a policy-centered debate. Badenoch’s critiques, while uncomfortable, align with concerns expressed by many Nigerians about governance and accountability.

Instead of engaging with her statements constructively, Shettima’s comments risk alienating the diaspora, who often navigate complex dual identities while contributing significantly to Nigeria’s image abroad.

Moreover, the Vice President’s comments on population growth as a badge of honor fail to address the more pressing challenge: how Nigeria plans to manage such growth amidst economic and infrastructural constraints.

Simply being populous does not equate to progress, and pride in numbers without addressing systemic inefficiencies could be a hollow victory.

This exchange reflects a broader issue: the inability to distinguish between criticism as an attack and criticism as an opportunity for self-improvement. Shettima’s remarks could have been a platform for outreach and collaboration, but instead, they’ve become a lightning rod for controversy.

Is this the best way to project Nigeria’s greatness? Perhaps the Vice President missed an opportunity to lead with humility and a commitment to addressing the very concerns that tarnish Nigeria’s global image.