TINUBU’S UK VISIT EXCLUDES CUSTOMARY MEETING WITH KEY OPPOSITION LEADER, KEMI BADENASH

March 20, 2026 • Dons Eze • 2 min read

President Bola Tinubu’s itinerary for his state visit to the United Kingdom does not include a meeting with Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party.

Tinubu is in the UK for a two-day state visit which he commenced on Wednesday.

On the first day of his trip, he met the royal family including King Charles and Queen Camilla, met with interfaith organisations, and enjoyed a banquet where he and the British monarch both gave speeches.

He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street on Thursday.

It is customary for visiting heads of state on a formal state visit to the UK to meet the leader of the opposition, not just the prime minister.

Badenoch attended last night’s dinner but was not formally penned down to meet the Nigerian leader.

SEVERING TIES WITH NIGERIA

The opposition leader, who is of Nigerian descent, has said she no longer identifies with her ancestral roots.

Much of the politician’s rhetoric has centred on public criticisms of the country she was raised in.

While touting the Conservative Party as the right group to fix Britain, Badenoch said she did not want the consequences of “terrible governments” like Nigeria to play out in the UK.

Before she was elected leader of the Tories, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.

In a separate interview, she accused the Nigerian police of robbing her and stealing her brother’s shoes.

She has also hinted at walking miles to fetch water while residing in Nigeria — despite being raised in a wealthy family.

Her political approach has provoked disapproval from Nigerian leaders, including a rebuke from Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who accused Badenoch of “constantly denigrating” her homeland.

A spokesperson for the politician said Badenoch is not interested in laundering Nigeria’s image.

During US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK last September, Badenoch shared a picture with the president on her Instagram, taken at the customary state banquet held for his reception.

She said it was a pleasure to meet Trump who gave a “wonderful speech on his admiration for our country, reminding us about all the things that put the ‘Great’ in Great Britain!”.

The opposition leader did not share a picture with the Nigerian president even though she was at the state banquet held in his honour.

Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.