The leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has cautioned against the dangers of ineffective governance in Britain, drawing a comparison to Nigeria’s political system.
Badenoch made these remarks on Thursday during her first speech of the year at an event organized by Onward, a British think tank focused on economic and social research. In her address, she emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust and positioning the Conservative Party as a solution to Britain’s challenges.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch stated. “I don’t want Britain to lose what it has. I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.”
Recounting her personal experiences, she revealed that she returned to the UK at the age of 16 with only her father’s last £100 in search of a better life. She then warned that poor governance could lead Britain down a similar path to Nigeria, a country she believes has been plagued by economic instability and mismanagement.
Badenoch’s comments have sparked criticism in Nigeria, where she has frequently been accused of making disparaging remarks about her country of origin. Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima recently rebuked her, accusing her of “constantly denigrating” Nigeria.
This is not the first time Badenoch has drawn controversy with her views on Nigeria. Before her election as Conservative Party leader, she described Nigeria as a socialist state afflicted by corruption and insecurity. In a past interview, she also alleged that Nigerian police officers had once robbed her and stolen her brother’s shoes.
Additionally, Badenoch has shared accounts of personal struggles during her time in Nigeria, including having to walk long distances to fetch water despite coming from a relatively privileged background.
Her latest remarks have reignited debates over her stance on Nigeria, with some defending her views as hard truths, while others accuse her of using Nigeria as a negative reference point to bolster her political arguments in the UK.
