The leader of the United Kingdom, UK, Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has replied to Nigeria\u2019s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, saying she stands by her remarks about Nigeria despite criticism that she is denigrating the country.<\/p>\n
Badenoch has allegedly described her upbringing in Nigeria as being overshadowed by fear and insecurity in a country plagued by corruption.<\/p>\n
Born in the UK in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents, she married a Scottish banker, Hamish Badenoch, and took her husband\u2019s surname.<\/p>\n
Before she was elected leader of the Conservative Party, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my country. I don\u2019t 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 and when they pollute the whole political atmosphere with their failure to serve others.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up in a place where fear was everywhere. You cannot understand it unless you\u2019ve 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Vice President Shettima on Monday responded, accusing Badenoch of denigrating Nigeria at every opportunities.<\/p>\n
Shettima had asked Badenoch to remove the \u201cKemi\u201d from her name if she was not proud of her nation of origin.<\/p>\n
Asked about Shettima\u2019s comments, Badenoch, through her spokesperson, said she stands by her statements and is not interested in doing public relations for Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is the leader of the opposition, and she is very proud of her leadership of the opposition in this country.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She\u2019s not going to couch her words, and she stands by what she says,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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