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Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, says she does not want the consequences of “terrible governments” like Nigeria to play out in Britain.
Badenoch spoke on Thursday while delivering her first speech of the year at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues.
Speaking on the importance of building trust and touting the Conservative Party as the right group to fix Britain, the politician likened a possibility of the UK becoming like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“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 told the audience.
“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.”
Badenoch’s comments are a resumed criticism of Nigeria, her country of origin — an approach that has provoked disapproval from Nigerian leaders, including a rebuke from Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima accused Badenoch of “constantly denigrating” her homeland.
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.
Amid the backlash from Nigerians, a spokesperson for the politician said Badenoch is not interested in laundering Nigeria’s image.
