Kalu Reacts to David Cameron’s Negative Comments on Nigeria

Former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, wednesday reacted to negative comments made by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, describing Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt” country.

Kalu said the comment was most unfortunate and unguarded, given the relationship between Nigeria and Britain.

He said the comment was 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.

The former governor therefore called on Cameron to render an immediate and unreserved apology to Nigerians and to President Muhammadu Buhari for the embarrassing comments.

In a statement signed personally by the business mogul, he said: “My attention and that of the Nigerian public have been drawn to the recent statements made by the British Prime Minister, Cameron in which described 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 who 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 utterances coming from the convener of the summit himself, just before the commencement, suggest that either he doesn’t take the summit seriously, 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 Nigerians and to President Muhammadu Buhari for the embarrassing comments. As a responsible government and former colonists of Nigeria, my advise 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.”