A video of United Kingdom Prime Minister, David Cameron, telling Queen Elizabeth II that Nigeria and Afghanistan are “possible the two most corrupt countries in the world” had been published by the British media.
The release of the video comes the same day President Muhammadu Buhari departs Nigeria for London to participate in the International Anti-Corruption Summit.
The Prime Minister is also noted to have said, “We’ve got the leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain.”Cameron, who is expected to host Buhari during the summit, made the comment while speaking at an event to mark the Queen’s 90th Birthday, according to UK’s Independent, which published the footage from ITV News on its website.
The Independent in its report, however, said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Justin Welby, who was among those present, intervened on Buhari’s behalf, saying, “This particular President is not himself corrupt.”
Nigeria has been ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International for years.
However, Buhari rode to power in 2015 promising to tackle corruption, the insurgency in the North East and to reposition the country for growth.
His anti-corruption campaign has led to the arrest and arraignment of several past government officials, exposing huge corruption scandals – one of the biggest being the arms deal scandal involving between $2.1b and $15b.
His anti-corruption campaign has led to the arrest and arraignment of several past government officials, exposing huge corruption scandals – one of the biggest being the arms deal scandal involving between $2.1b and $15b.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, on Saturday said Buhari would present a keynote address entitled ‘Why we must tackle corruption together’.
While supporters of the President have hailed the anti-corruption war and cheered him on, opponents have argued that it is being used as a political tool to decimate opposition.
While supporters of the President have hailed the anti-corruption war and cheered him on, opponents have argued that it is being used as a political tool to decimate opposition.
UK publication, Daily Mail echoed the latter sentiment in a report on Sunday, which accused the President of living lavish and sending his daughter to £26,000-year-school in the UK in contrast to the frugal lifestyle he promotes.
The article has, however, been condemned by many Nigerians, including Peoples Democratic Party Senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, who warned Nigerians against allowing the Western media to demean their leaders.
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