James Akinwande, a Nigerian resident in the United Kingdom and international manager of comedian Kenny Blaq, has replaced the shoes and wristwatch that Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British Conservative Party, claimed were stolen from her brother by members of the Nigeria Police Force. Badenoch’s remarks, made in a December 2024 interview, sparked widespread reactions. She alleged that Nigerian police officers had robbed her family during a visit to the country. “The police in Nigeria would rob us. I remember the police stealing my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things,” she said, contrasting her negative experience in Nigeria with positive encounters in the UK.
The comments drew backlash from Nigerians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, who accused Badenoch of repeatedly tarnishing Nigeria’s image. In response, Akinwande posted a video documenting his purchase of a new pair of shoes and a wristwatch in the UK, which he delivered to the Conservative Party’s headquarters for Badenoch.
“On behalf of every proud Nigerian who felt genuinely hurt by those unfounded disparaging remarks about the Nigerian Police, we ‘buy back’ the stolen shoes and watch! (I hope it fits, tho..),” Akinwande wrote in the video.
The video quickly went viral on social media, though the original post was later taken down. The incident has reignited conversations about perceptions of Nigeria’s institutions abroad and the responsibilities of public figures in addressing sensitive issues.
Discover more from ParrotMouth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
