₦airaland Forum

Tinubu snubs Badenoch, excludes Conservative leader from two-day itinerary

President Bola Tinubu’s two-day state visit to the UK, which began on Wednesday, does not include a meeting with Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party.

On the first day, Tinubu met with King Charles and Queen Camilla, engaged with interfaith organizations, and attended a banquet where he and the monarch delivered speeches. He is set to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday. Typically, it is customary for heads of state on official visits to meet the opposition leader, but Badenoch was not formally introduced to him during the dinner.

Badenoch, who has publicly criticized Nigeria despite her Nigerian heritage, suggested that she no longer identifies with her ancestral roots. She referred to Nigeria as a nation with corrupt politicians and has accused the Nigerian police of robbing her. Her comments have drawn rebukes from Nigerian leaders, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

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

Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu met with King Charles and Queen Camilla, where they spoke on interfaith organisations, and attended a banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Nigerian leader also met the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street.

Very Nigerian learnt that it is a long-standing practice for country’s leaders on official visits to engage the opposition leader.

However, Badenoch was not formally introduced at the event which was held at St George Hall.

Badenoch, the British opposition leader, despite her Nigerian roots, has publicly criticised Nigeria, with a particular claim that the policemen once robbed her.

Her persistent criticisms of Nigeria had attracted reactions from Nigerians, as she said 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.

Related News
“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

Vice President Kashim Shettima reacted to Badenoch’s attacks on the country, and cautioned her from “denigrating” Nigeria.

Shettima’s outburst was followed by many mixed reactions trailing Badenoch’s decision to choose the UK over Nigeria.

However, in the event, which Nigerian Afro beat singer Tiwa Savage attended on Wednesday, Badenoch was not officially recognised by Tinubu and his delegates.

Also present was the British-Nigerian professional rugby player, Maro Itoje.

The 17-member delegation with Tinubu included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi; Ministers Dele Alake (Solid Minerals), Idris Mohammed (Information), Wale Edun (Finance), Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment), Hannatu Musawa (Culture), Bosun Tijani (Communications), and Bianca Ojukwu (State for Foreign Affairs).

Also in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.); National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and National Intelligence Agency Director-General Mohammed Mohammed.

The president’s trip centred on transforming a long-standing relationship into a modern economic alliance.

Stephen0mozzy:
This action is probably one of the best thing City Boy did in the UK. As the unfortunate immigrant has decided to never aee anything good about Nigeria, then she doesn't deserve the honor of Nigerians as embodied in City Boy in UK.

dettolgel:
Kemi no get Tinubu time, na Trump and Keir she dey drag. Tinubu na small fish where she dey

InfoGuru118:
President Bola Tinubu has ended his two-day state visit to the United Kingdom without a scheduled meeting with the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch.

Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu met with King Charles and Queen Camilla, where they spoke on interfaith organisations, and attended a banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Nigerian leader also met the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street.

Very Nigerian learnt that it is a long-standing practice for country’s leaders on official visits to engage the opposition leader.

However, Badenoch was not formally introduced at the event which was held at St George Hall.

Badenoch, the British opposition leader, despite her Nigerian roots, has publicly criticised Nigeria, with a particular claim that the policemen once robbed her.

Her persistent criticisms of Nigeria had attracted reactions from Nigerians, as she said 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.

Related News
“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

Vice President Kashim Shettima reacted to Badenoch’s attacks on the country, and cautioned her from “denigrating” Nigeria.

Shettima’s outburst was followed by many mixed reactions trailing Badenoch’s decision to choose the UK over Nigeria.

However, in the event, which Nigerian Afro beat singer Tiwa Savage attended on Wednesday, Badenoch was not officially recognised by Tinubu and his delegates.

Also present was the British-Nigerian professional rugby player, Maro Itoje.

The 17-member delegation with Tinubu included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi; Ministers Dele Alake (Solid Minerals), Idris Mohammed (Information), Wale Edun (Finance), Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment), Hannatu Musawa (Culture), Bosun Tijani (Communications), and Bianca Ojukwu (State for Foreign Affairs).

Also in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.); National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and National Intelligence Agency Director-General Mohammed Mohammed.

The president’s trip centred on transforming a long-standing relationship into a modern economic alliance.

https://verynigerian.com/tinubu-snubs-kemi-badenoch-during-uk-visit/

Malagans:
How is Tinubu a small fish before Kemi?

Some of you are really funny. Who is Kemi before a president of the most populous black nation on earth?

dettolgel:
Since when does being "the most populous black nation on earth" a force to reckon with on international stage? abeg no make me laugh !!

The most populous black nation on earth with almost zero influence on international scene. My dear, she is concerned with countries that matter on international scene, not a puppet nation.

The same Nigeria that was running its mouth until USA dropped bombed on Christmas day. Instead of sending the US ambassador packing, they rewarded them by "secretly" and subtly setting up USA post in Northern Nigeria under the disguise of military training.

Uncle, don't embarrass yourself, Kemi knowns that Tinubu worth less than a used tissue paper when it comes to international politics.
Tinubu went to UK to receive instruction from his puppeteer

Dogalmighty17:
You got it wrong. Badenoch IGNORED Tinubu. Have you watched that woman engage her colleagues in the House of Commons? That's not a woman that can be ignored.

LibertyRep:
Somebody said she no longer identify with the country and you still want the president to meet her so that she can further drag the country in the mud.

Sheuns:
You can call it a snub if Madam Kemi wanted to meet him.

A woman that has continuously called Nigerian politicians useless won’t want to be associated with them.

She no send am.