Kemi Badenoch
I stand by my comments, Kemi Badenoch replies VP Shettima
The leader of the Conservative Party in Britain, Ms Kemi Badenoch, said she stands by her comments about Nigeria after Vice President Kashim Shettima publicly criticised her for remarks.
Ms Badenoch was born in the London suburb of Wimbledon, and raised in Nigeria, before returning to the UK at the age of 16.
She has spoken often about her life and childhood in Nigeria – especially during the Tory leadership race, Sky news reports
However, her comments have attracted a scathing reply from Nigeria’s Vice President Shettima, condemning the remarks about Nigeria.
Vice President Shettima accused the Conservative leader of disparaging the country.
Shettima also added: “She is entitled to her own opinions, she has every right to remove the Kemi from her name.”
However, asked about the comments, a spokesperson for Ms Badenoch said she “stands by what she says” and “is not the PR for Nigeria”.
They added: “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 is not going to couch her words.”
It is not clear which statements the Nigerian politician was responding to.
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Ms Badenoch has previously described growing up in Nigeria and seeing a government beset by corruption and dysfunction.
On one occasion, she said that growing up in Nigeria she has “seen what happens when politicians are in it for themselves… using public money as their private piggy banks”.