Nigerian-British leader of the United Kingdom (UK) Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
Kemi, who has been having serious exchange of words with the Federal Government of Nigeria in the last few days, made the remark during an interview with a UK journalist.
During the interview, the British journalist asked her if she trusted the UK police, in response, she said, “I do. My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.
Speaking further, Kemi said, “They took his shoe and his watch?” Kemi continued: “It’s a very poor country. People do all sorts of things. So, giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate. But that’s not just the problem. That is not the bar we should use for the British Police. When I was burgled, for example, the police were there. They were helpful before they eventually caught the person. This was in 2004, that was 20 years ago.”
NewsBand reported that on Tuesday, Nigeria’s Vice President, Mr. Kashim Shettima, subtly tackled Badenoch for talking down on Nigeria whereas another prominent British politician, Rishi Sunak never denigrated his original country, India, according to Shettima.
Mrs. Kemi, who was born in the United Kingdom but mostly raised in Nigeria, has repeatedly described growing up in fear and insecurity in a country plagued by corruption.
Also, she has often been quoted saying that she did not want the UK to become like the country she ran away from.
While speaking at an event on Monday, Shettima said, “Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Labour or Conservative Party. We are proud of her despite her efforts at denigrating her nation of origin.
“She is entitled to her own opinions; she has even every right to remove the Kemi from her name but that does not underscore (take away from) the fact that the greatest black nation on earth is the nation called Nigeria.”
But responding to Shettima in a statement on Wednesday, her spokesman said, “Kemi is not interested in doing Nigeria’s PR; she is the leader of the opposition in the UK.
“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”.
