I Don’t Want UK To Become Nigeria Where Government Destroys Lives – Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader in the United Kingdom, has expressed alarm about the potential implications of weak administration in the country, comparing them to Nigeria’s difficulties.

Badenoch made the statements during her first address of the year at an event held by Onward, a British think tank that focuses on economic and social concerns.

Addressing the crowd, the Nigerian-born UK politician emphasized the necessity of fostering trust and overhauling processes to ensure Britain’s future.

“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 said. “I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.”

Badenoch shared her own experiences, reflecting on her background in Nigeria and the economic struggles her family faced.

“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,” she stated.

Badenoch’s statements are the latest in a string of accusations thrown at her home nation of Nigeria, which have sparked outrage from Nigerian politicians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Shettima had previously chastised Badenoch for what he described as her continuous criticism of Nigeria. Before being elected head of the Conservative Party, Badenoch regarded Nigeria as a socialist country plagued by corruption and insecurity. She also shared personal stories of poverty, claiming that Nigerian police had robbed her and stole her brother’s shoes.

In previous statements, Badenoch alluded to the difficulties her family endured during her time in Nigeria, such as going kilometers to obtain water despite having wealthy parents.

Her ongoing criticism of Nigeria has elicited a mixed response, with some Nigerians rejecting her ideas while others seeing them as a reflection of her personal experiences.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli