By Prosper Mene
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has publicly praised Kemi Badenoch, the current leader of the Conservative Party, describing her as a possible future prime minister and jokingly thanking Nigeria for “sending” her to Britain.
Speaking on Thursday at the Imo Economic Summit in Owerri, Johnson highlighted the deep and mutually beneficial ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, emphasising the two-way flow of trade, expertise, and talent.
“Britain exports pharmaceuticals, bankers, services of all kinds, automotive parts… and whisky – huge quantities of whisky,” Johnson said, to laughter from the audience.
In return, he continued, Nigeria sends “oil and gas; Nollywood movies; brilliant doctors and nurses; technicians; and tech geniuses” to the UK.
Then, with characteristic humour, he added: “We send you former United Kingdom prime ministers, and you send us a future United Kingdom prime minister in the form of Kemi Badenoch, who comes from Nigeria and is doing better and better these days.”
The light-hearted endorsement comes at a sensitive time for the Conservative Party. Although Badenoch led the Tories to a surprising recovery in opinion polls after becoming leader in late 2024, recent local election results and internal soundings have exposed growing unease among some party members about her long-term leadership.
The Conservatives recorded their worst local election performance since 1995 in May, securing just 15 per cent of the vote. Subsequent private polling has reportedly shown “small but significant” discontent within sections of the party, prompting renewed speculation about potential successors should Badenoch step down or be challenged before the next general election.
Among the names circulating are Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary who was Badenoch’s main rival in the 2024 leadership contest, and James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary.
Badenoch, who was born in London but spent part of her childhood in Nigeria, has previously distanced herself from strong identification with her Nigerian heritage, stating in earlier interviews that she does not consider herself Nigerian and feels fully British.
Johnson’s warm public praise therefore walks a fine line between celebration of the UK-Nigeria relationship and the political realities facing the Conservative leader he described as a gift from Africa to British politics.
