Pastor Tobi Adegboyega Refutes Kemi Badenoch’s Remarks on Nigeria, Defends Black Community in the U
Controversial UK-based Nigerian pastor Tobi Adegboyega has strongly dismissed remarks made by Kemi Badenoch, leader of the British Conservative Party, regarding Nigeria’s challenges and the behavior of its citizens. In an interview with a UK journalist, Badenoch had described Nigeria as a country that pushes its citizens into questionable behaviors, and also accused the Nigerian police of robbing the people they are supposed to protect.
Adegboyega, the founder of SPAC Nation, which was recently shut down by the British government for allegedly mismanaging £1.87 million in funds, refuted Badenoch’s claims. Speaking as a guest on Monday’s *Politics Today* program on Channels Television, he argued that safety and questionable behaviors are global issues, not unique to Nigeria. “I completely disagree with that statement,” he said, adding that the problems cited by Badenoch also manifest in other countries, including the UK.
The pastor pointed out that between 2023 and 2024, approximately 78,000 bags and phones were snatched in London and the UK alone. “There’s a very strong Nigerian black community in this nation,” Adegboyega noted. He further criticized the remarks by stating that people from marginalized communities, including black immigrants, had to fight their way to positions of power, citing the example of the UK’s first black leader of the opposition.
“The Windrush, which has to do with Jamaicans, people have been fighting before a black person or black immigrant can ascend to those seats,” Adegboyega continued. His comments highlighted the long-standing struggles of black communities in the UK and the difficult journey to political and social acceptance.
The embattled preacher emphasized that while Nigeria may have its challenges, it does not give others the right to disparage the country in the manner that Badenoch did. “Though things might be tough for my people back home in Nigeria, it doesn’t give anybody leeway to disparage the country,” he argued, defending the nation against unfair criticism.
Adegboyega further highlighted the struggles of the black community in the UK, noting that the number of young black men in UK prisons and mental health facilities far outnumbers those in schools. “We cannot disassociate from where we are coming from,” he said, pointing out the issues facing the black community in the UK. He also called attention to the disparity in representation, with a significant number of young black people being incarcerated or placed in mental hospitals rather than schools.
In response to the accusations against SPAC Nation and the church’s recent closure, Adegboyega stressed his focus on supporting the younger generation. “When SPAC Nation began, we started sending people to Harvard, Cambridge and also have the highest number in Imperial College,” he concluded, underscoring his efforts to help young people from marginalized backgrounds succeed academically and socially despite the challenges they face.
