In response to recent remarks made by Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK Conservative Party, the Nigerian Presidency has stated that her views against Nigeria will not have any effect on the nation.
At an event organized by the British think-tank Onward, Badenoch gave her first address of the year and compared the difficulties Nigerian and British governance face.
She expressed concerns about the potential consequences of ineffective governance in Britain, warning that the country could face risks similar to Nigeria’s if its system falters.
In response to these comments, Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, dismissed any implications for Nigeria’s international relations or its ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, Bwala reassured viewers that Badenoch’s remarks would not influence Nigeria’s global standing.
The Presidency’s firm stance suggests that the criticism will not affect the country’s diplomatic ties or its economic goals.
He said, “I don’t think it would have an effect because she’s not the government in power.
Read Also: UK-based Pastor Tobi Adegboyega rejects Kemi Badenoch’s claims on Nigeria
“Usually, these international relationships or collaborations are dealings between governments. Because she’s not the government in power, it will not have any effect.
“Secondly, because she’s a Nigerian, investors will be smart enough to access what she’s saying, whether it is born out of rhetoric.”
Earlier in the interview, Bwala acknowledged Badenoch’s accomplishments in the UK but argued that she is exploiting populism, which thrives on public discontent.
“The only problem we have with Kemi, I think, is the rhetoric because Kemi belongs to the right base in the United Kingdom, which is what you see in this populism around the world; that you can deepen on your support system if you can feed off of the anger of the people,” Bwala said.
“And so she’s building a rhetoric of denigrating Nigeria, demarketing in Nigeria, so she can probably win the acceptance or acceptation of the rights in her party. And that to me is counterproductive because if you look at Rishi Sunak, he is also of Indian origin.
“There has been this issue of gang rape in India. He has never used that as a weapon to promote what he believed to be a departure from what is likely to be believed as hereditary or history of the Indian people, but she has always denigrated Nigeria.”
