UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has expressed strong concerns over the future of Britain, warning against the dangers of poor governance by drawing comparisons to Nigeria.
In her first speech of the year on Thursday, Badenoch emphasized her commitment to “real conservatism” aimed at securing a “better, richer, and safer” future for younger generations in the UK.
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“Why this matters so much to me is because I know what it is like to have something and lose it. I don’t want Britain to lose what it has,” she said.
Reflecting on her childhood in Nigeria, Badenoch recounted how her once well-off family became poorer despite working harder, as inflation eroded their earnings.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer despite working harder as their money disappeared with inflation,” she stated.
Sharing her personal journey, Badenoch revealed that she migrated back to the UK at the age of 16 with her father’s last £100, seeking a better life.
“I’ve lived with the consequences of a terrible government that destroys lives, and I never want that to happen here,” she added.
Badenoch’s comments have sparked fresh criticism for her repeated negative remarks about Nigeria. Previously, she described Nigerian police as “armed robbers” who use their weapons to intimidate citizens rather than protect them.
In response to her comments, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, publicly criticized Badenoch, urging her to change her name if she wished to disassociate herself from Nigeria, calling the country the “greatest Black nation on earth.”
Badenoch’s remarks have ignited debates about governance, national identity, and the responsibility of public figures when discussing their countries of origin.
