The leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has responded to criticism from Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, asserting that she stands by her remarks about Nigeria despite accusations of denigrating the country.
Badenoch, who was born in the UK in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents, has described her upbringing in Nigeria as being overshadowed by fear and insecurity in a country plagued by corruption. She married Scottish banker Hamish Badenoch and took his surname.
Before her election as 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.
Vice President Shettima responded on Monday, accusing Badenoch of denigrating Nigeria. He suggested that Badenoch should 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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