By Abiola Olawale
Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has made headlines once again by delivering a pointed critique of Nigeria, the country of her ancestry.
This is as Badenoch declared that she does not want the consequences of “terrible governments” like Nigeria to play out in Britain.
The Conservative Party Leader who spoke during an event organized by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, said she has bad experiences of bad leadership, hence the reason she is working to see the UK from becoming like Nigeria.
She said: “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.
“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.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
This comes after several instances where Badenoch had openly criticized successive Nigerian governments.
Before she was elected leader of the Tories, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.
In a separate interview, she accused the Nigerian police of robbing her and stealing her brother’s shoes.
She has also hinted at walking miles to get water while she lived in Nigeria despite having wealthy parents.
These remarks have stirred controversy, particularly in Nigeria, where political figures like Vice President Kashim Shettima have criticized her for what they see as denigrating her country of origin. This has led to a diplomatic spat, with some in Nigeria suggesting that her comments betray a lack of pride in her Nigerian heritage, while others see her statements as an honest reflection of her personal experiences.
