Nigerian politicians use public funds as personal piggybanks, says UK PM candidate

Nigerian-British politician and a Member of Parliament (MP), Kemi Badenoch, has berated her home country’s politicians for being selfish and failing to serve others, according to a video shared yesterday.

Badenoch is in the race with seven others to become the Conservative leader and British Prime Minister, after Boris Johnson resigned from office on July 7. Others in the race are Suella Braverman, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Tom Tugendhat, Liz Truss and Nadhim Zahawi.

The 42-year-old was among several ministers that resigned over a loss of confidence in Boris Johnson’s style of governance.

Badenoch, in her speech to garner support for the top office, said she is in the contest to serve her party and country, the United Kingdom, having grown up in Nigeria and witnessed how Nigerian politicians fail to serve the country.

Speaking on her growing-up years in Nigeria, she said Nigerian politicians have a knack for making promises and failing to keep those promises.

“I am running for prime minister because I am ambitious. I am ambitious for our country and for our party. I chose to be the conservative MP to serve and choose this country because here, I can be free and be anything I want to be. I grew up in Nigeria and I saw firsthand when politicians are in it for themselves.

“When they use private money as their piggybanks when they promise the earth and they pollute not just the earth, but the whole political atmosphere with their failure to serve others. I came to Britain, determined to make my way in a country where hard work and honesty can take you anywhere.

“I saw what socialism means. For millions, it is poverty and broken dreams. I came to Britain determined to make my way in a country where hard work and honest endeavour can take you anywhere,” the former UK Equalities Minister said.