Former
Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday described the statement
credited to British Prime Minister David Cameron, in which he referred
to Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt” country as unguarded.
He said Cameron should apologise for the “unfortunate” statement.
“My attention and that of the Nigerian
public have been drawn to the recent statement made by the British Prime
Minister, Mr. David Cameron in which he characterized Nigeria as a
“fantastically corrupt country” during his briefing to Her Majesty,
Queen Elizabeth just before the anti-corruption summit which was
attended by President Muhammadu Buhari in London.
“The statements of the British Prime
Minister are most unfortunate and unguarded, given the relationship
between the Nigeria and Britain, two countries that share very long and
deep heritage; and especially as the British PM did not state the basis
on which he made such assertion which has now become public. It is also a
gross disrespect and a most uncharitable disposition to the Nigerian
people who work hard to earn their living and who have made very
positive impacts on the lives of British people and their economy. Also,
such statements coming from the convener of the summit himself, just
before the commencement, suggest that either he doesn’t take the summit
serious, or he is deceptive in terms of his commitment to the Nigerian
government in the fight against corruption.
“In the light of this, the British Prime
Minister should render an immediate and unreserved apology to the
Nigerian people and to President Buhari for those embarrassing comments.
As a responsible government and former colonists of Nigeria, my advice
is that Britain should handle this matter with the required level of
responsibility and prudence so as to avoid a possible breakdown of
diplomatic relations between the two countries,” Kalu added.
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