President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official itinerary during his state visit to the United Kingdom has reportedly excluded a formal meeting with Kemi Badenoch, sparking conversations in diplomatic and political circles.
Tinubu began his two-day visit on Wednesday with engagements involving members of the British royal family, including King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The Nigerian leader also attended an interfaith meeting and later participated in a state banquet hosted in his honour.
The president is expected to hold talks with Keir Starmer at the historic 10 Downing Street as part of discussions aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and the UK.
However, observers noted that Tinubu’s schedule does not include a formal meeting with Badenoch, who currently leads the Conservative Party and serves as the leader of the opposition in the UK parliament. Traditionally, visiting heads of state often hold meetings with both the prime minister and the opposition leader during official visits.
Badenoch, a British politician of Nigerian descent, has previously made several critical remarks about Nigeria. In past interviews, she described the country as being plagued by corruption and insecurity and has stated that she does not identify strongly with her Nigerian heritage.
Her comments have drawn criticism from some Nigerian officials, including Kashim Shettima, who accused her of repeatedly denigrating the country.
Although Badenoch attended the state banquet held in honour of Tinubu during the visit, there was no official record of a private meeting between both leaders.
Analysts say the development highlights the complex dynamics surrounding Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with diaspora political figures and critics of the country’s governance.
