Kemi Badenoch, a prominent British Conservative politician, has come under fire for controversial comments made in an interview with The Daily Mail, where she expressed concerns about the UK potentially becoming like Nigeria due to ineffective governance.
Badenoch, who serves as a leader within the Conservative Party, shared her fears during an event hosted by Onward, a British think tank focused on economic and social issues.
Speaking on her personal experiences, she drew a comparison between the UK and Nigeria, citing the latter’s “terrible governments” that she believes have “destroyed lives.”
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has,” Badenoch stated, recalling her childhood in Nigeria.
“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.”
Badenoch revealed that she moved to the UK at the age of 16 with her father’s last £100, seeking a better life.
She described her experiences with poor governance in Nigeria, saying, “I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
In addition to her remarks about Nigerian governance, Badenoch stirred controversy in recent weeks by distancing herself from the country, specifically rejecting any connection with Nigeria’s Islamic northern region.
She also criticized the Nigeria Police, accusing them of robbing citizens instead of providing protection.
“My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative,” Badenoch remarked, adding that her experience with the British Police had been far more positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us,” she said, recalling an incident where she claimed Nigerian officers stole her brother’s belongings.
