Boris Johnson, former prime minister of the United Kingdom (UK), has tipped Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, as a future leader of the country.
Johnson spoke on Thursday in Owerri at the ongoing Imo economic summit.
The former PM hailed the relationship between Nigeria and the UK, saying it is sustained by a vibrant flow of talent moving in both directions.
“I’m very proud of what we export to Nigeria. We send you pharmaceuticals and bankers and services of all kinds, automotive parts, all sorts of things, and whisky – huge quantities of whisky,” he said.
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“And you send us so much in return — oil and gas; Nollywood movies; brilliant, brilliant doctors and nurses; technicians; and tech geniuses from Nigeria come to the UK, and we’re very grateful and honoured.
“And 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.”
Johnson’s comments come as the Tories eye him as one of Badenoch’s possible successors after polls showed the party almost evenly divided over the prospect of the British-Nigerian politician leading it into the next UK general election.
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Discussions about replacing Badenoch began to grow after the party’s poll ratings dipped ahead of the local elections held in May.
The projections turned out accurate, with the Tories recording only 15 percent of the vote in the elections. It was their worst result since 1995.
An October poll revealed small but significant traces of discontent against Badenoch.
Other candidates of choice to succeed Badenoch include Robert Jenrick, right-wing shadow justice secretary and her rival at the 2024 leadership election, and James Cleverly, shadow housing secretary.
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Although Johnson praised Badenoch as a talent from Nigeria, the Tory leader had said she no longer identifies with the country of her ancestral roots.
