Kemi Badenoch: As a Yoruba Man, Call Shettima to Order – Igboho Tells Tinubu

Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing verbal dispute between Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party.

Igboho urged Tinubu, as a fellow Yoruba man, to instruct Shettima to focus on addressing Nigeria’s numerous challenges rather than engaging in public criticism of Badenoch.

Badenoch, born to Yoruba parents in the UK, spent her early years in Nigeria before returning to Britain at 16. Recently, she sparked controversy by describing Nigeria as a “socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.” She also stated in an interview that she identifies more with the Yoruba ethnic group than with Nigeria as a whole.

Her comments have drawn widespread backlash, including from Vice-President Shettima, who accused her of “constantly denigrating” her homeland.

However, in a statement on Sunday, Igboho defended Badenoch, asserting that her observations were truthful and reflective of Nigeria’s systemic problems. He criticized Shettima for targeting Badenoch instead of addressing pressing national issues like poverty, insecurity, and economic hardship.

“It is incumbent on President Bola Tinubu, who is also of Yoruba lineage, to direct Shettima to focus on his duties as vice president rather than engage in a verbal war against Badenoch,” Igboho said.

The activist drew comparisons to the previous administration under Muhammadu Buhari, noting that criticism of the Fulani ethnic group during Buhari’s tenure was met with swift consequences. He recounted his own ordeal in July 2021, when his residence was raided by security agents, leading to the deaths of two individuals and the arrest of 13 others, in response to his activism against violence by Fulani herders.

Igboho expressed frustration with the federal government’s inability to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. He accused Shettima of prioritizing a personal feud over Badenoch’s remarks instead of focusing on solutions to the nation’s problems.

“Majority of Nigerians are experiencing harrowing poverty and insecurity, yet the Federal Government remains lost in finding solutions. Rather than deploying measures to alleviate the suffering of the masses, the Vice President is busy directing his energy toward Badenoch,” Igboho said.

He argued that Badenoch’s comments about Nigeria’s corruption and her reaffirmation of her Yoruba identity were not offensive and should not have been met with hostility.

“Badenoch, proclaiming her true identity as Yoruba, has committed no offence,” Igboho added. “The Vice President should concentrate on his responsibilities instead of chasing shadows.”

Igboho concluded by urging Tinubu to rein in Shettima and redirect the administration’s focus to resolving Nigeria’s critical challenges.