By Matthew Atungwu The leader of the United Kingdom, UK, Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has replied to Nigeria’s Vice President,...
By Matthew Atungwu
The leader of the United Kingdom, UK, Conservative Party,
Kemi Badenoch, has replied to Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, saying
she stands by her remarks about Nigeria despite criticism that she is
denigrating the country.
Badenoch has allegedly described her upbringing in Nigeria
as being overshadowed by fear and insecurity in a country plagued by
corruption.
Born in the UK in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents, she married a Scottish banker, Hamish Badenoch, and took her husband’s surname.
Before she was elected leader of the Conservative Party,
Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving
politicians and insecurity.
“This is my country. I don’t want it to become like the
place I ran away from. I grew up in Nigeria, and I saw firsthand what happens
when politicians are in it for themselves, when they use public money as their
private piggy banks, when they pollute the whole political atmosphere with
their failure to serve others.
“I saw what socialism is for millions. I saw poverty and
broken dreams. I came to Britain to make my way in a country where hard work
and honest endeavour can take you anywhere.
“I grew up in a place where fear was everywhere. You cannot
understand it unless you’ve lived it. Triple-checking that all the doors and
windows are locked, waking up in the night at every sound, listening as you
hear your neighbours scream as they are being burgled and beaten, wondering if
your home would be next,” she said.
DAILY POST reports that Vice President Shettima on Monday
responded, accusing Badenoch of denigrating Nigeria.
Shettima had asked Badenoch to remove the “Kemi” from her
name if she was not proud of her nation of origin.
Asked about Shettima’s comments, Badenoch, through her
spokesperson, said she stands by her statements and is not interested in doing
public relations for Nigeria.
“She is the leader of the opposition, and she is very proud
of her leadership of the opposition in this country.
“She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She’s not
going to couch her words, and she stands by what she says,” the spokesperson
said.
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