Tinubu ‘shuns’ UK opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch

 

President Bola Tinubu has wrapped up his two-day state visit to the United Kingdom without holding a scheduled engagement with the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch.

During the visit, Tinubu and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, held talks with King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Discussions at the meeting focused on interfaith organisations, while the Nigerian delegation also attended a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

The Nigerian president later met with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street on Thursday.

Findings  indicate that it is customary for visiting heads of government to also engage with the opposition leader during official trips.

However, Badenoch was neither formally introduced nor acknowledged during the event held at St George Hall.

Despite her Nigerian heritage, Badenoch has been outspoken in her criticism of Nigeria, including a claim that she was once robbed by policemen in the country.

Her comments have drawn varied reactions from Nigerians, especially after she stated last year that, “most of my life has been in the UK.”

“I know the country very well, I have a lot of family there, and I’m very interested in what happens there. But home is where my now family is. I don’t identify with it anymore.

“Most of my life has been in the UK and I’ve just never felt the need to. I’m Nigerian through ancestry, by birth, despite not being born there because of my parents… but by identity, I’m not really,” Badenoch said.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had earlier responded to her remarks, warning her against “denigrating” the country.

His reaction sparked mixed responses, with many Nigerians weighing in on Badenoch’s stance regarding her identity.

At the event attended by Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage on Wednesday, Badenoch was not officially recognised by the Nigerian delegation.

Also present was British-Nigerian rugby player Maro Itoje.

Tinubu’s 17-member delegation included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi; and ministers such as Dele Alake, Mohammed Idris, Wale Edun, Jumoke Oduwole, Hannatu Musawa, Bosun Tijani, and Bianca Ojukwu.

Other members of the delegation were Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

The visit was aimed at repositioning the longstanding bilateral ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom into a more contemporary economic partnership.

(PUNCH)