Member of the British Parliament and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Diane Abbott, yesterday criticised the UK Prime Minister David Cameron for describing Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt,’ saying it was unfair to the Nigerian government and her people.
Speaking at Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday, Abbott said, “I think that David Cameron’s remarks about Nigeria were really unfair, President Muhammadu Buhari is paying serious attention to corruption and most people in the UK acknowledge this.”
According to the British MP, “Too much money that has been looted from national treasury finds their ways into the off-shore tax-havens, UK and other parts of Europe. I think if David Cameron wants to fight corruption, he should ensure that those monies are repatriated from banks in the UK to Nigeria.”
She added that the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was with the Queen of England when they were having that conversation agreed that the present President is much better than his predecessor and is taking steps against corruption, and most members of British Parliament said that it was an unfortunate remark, even as it takes two to be corrupt; the people who give the money and the people who receive such money.”
The British MP under the umbrella of Labour Party, said, “There was the need for an increase in worker’s salary globally to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. Also, we need to look at what should be the minimum wage in the private sector,” she said.
In a lecture titled: “Education: Reach for the Stars; Ensuring Access for All,” delivered at the Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria Spring Lecture 2016, MP Abbott said: “Good water, food and shelter are basic humanitarian needs but education should be one also, do not allow anyone to tell you that where you come from will define where you go.”
Dignitaries at the occasion included; former minister of external affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, President, Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria, Akinfela Akoni, Managing Director, LADOL, Dr. Army Jadesimi, Vice President, Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria, Nkiru Asika, Acting Deputy British High Commissioner, Ahmed Bashir, Executive Director of The Guardian, Mr. Toke Alex-Ibru, a co-sponsor of the event, among others.