Phrank Shaibu, the special assistant to Atiku Abubakar on public communication, has counseled vice president Kashim Shettima and those who are condemning Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, to spend their time on more constructive endeavours.
Recall that the vice president at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue at the State House in Abuja bemoaned the newly elected UK Conservative Party leader for disparaging Nigeria.
His reaction follows Shettima’s criticism of the recently elected UK Conservative Party leader for demeaning Nigeria at the 10th Annual Migration Dialogue held at State House in Abuja. Shettima even proposed changing her name.
The vice president said, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her in spite of her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin.
“She is 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.
“One out of every three or four Black men is a Nigerian, and by 2050, Nigeria will surpass the United States and will be the third most populous nation on earth.”
In the race to succeed the former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in 2022, Badenoch had accused Nigerian politicians of using public funds for their private matters.
Additionally, Badenoch stated at the Conservative Party convention that her childhood in Nigeria was dominated by instability and terror in a corrupt nation.
Wading into the controversies on Saturday, Shaibu, however, advised those criticizing Badenoch to have a moment of introspection.
He wrote on his X handle “Those criticizing @KemiBadenoch should pause for a moment of introspection. The mere fact that her name is Kemi or that she has Yoruba roots does not automatically render her Nigerian. After all, Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus @gabrieljesus9 is not the son of God… @officialSKSM should find something useful to do with his time!”
