JUST IN: Nigeria’s Kemi Badenoch Joins UK PM Race

A Nigerian, Kemi Badenoch, who was a former British equalities minister, has expressed interest to become the next prime minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Conservative Party.

Ms Badenoch, who was born Olukemi Olufunto in Wimbledon, London to parents of Nigerian origin, joined the race to succeed scandal-rocked Prime Minister Boris Johnson as Conservative leader.

She was one of the 60 members of parliament and aides who quit last week after Johnson apologised for appointing a senior colleague facing sexual assault claims to a prominent role.

It will be recalled that Boris Johnson was eventually forced to resign, even though he had insisted he would stay in office until his successor was appointed.

While announcing her bid for the UK’s top job in an article published in The Times newspaper, 42-year-old Badenoch and MP for Saffron Walden called for change, saying the British public was “exhausted by platitudes and empty rhetoric”.

According to her: “I’m putting myself forward in this leadership election because I want to tell the truth,” she said. “It’s the truth that will set us free.

“Without change the Conservative Party, Britain and the western world will continue to drift” and rivals will “outpace us economically and outmanoeuvre us internationally.”

In a declaration that has continued to attract public endorsements, Badenoch is in the race to become the next UK prime minister alongside Rishi Sunak, former chancellor; Sajid Javid, former health secretary; Ben Wallace, defence secretary; and Jeremy Hunt, former foreign secretary, among several others.