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President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he does not need any apology from David Cameron after the Prime Minister was caught on tape calling Nigeria “fantastically corrupt”.
Speaking on on Wednesday at a meeting hosted by Commonwealth ahead of the anti-corruption summit in London, Buhari stated that he is more interested in recovering the stolen assets of Nigeria in the UK than demanding an apology from Cameron.
His words:
“I’m not going to demand any apology. All I demand is a return of assets. What would I do with apology?”
“I have already mentioned how disgraceful one of the Nigerian executive dressed as a woman to leave Britain, leaving behind his bank account and fixed asset, which Britain is prepared to hand over to us, this is what I’m asking for. What will I do with apology? I need something tangible.”
Buhari lamented the difficulty in recovering stolen wealth, demanding for an establishment of an anti-corruption infrastructure that will track assets stashed abroad.
Describing corruption as a “hydra headed monster”, Buhari said it does not differentiate between developed and developing countries.
He said:
“Repatriating stolen assets is tedious, time-consuming, costly. It entails more than just signing of bilateral agreements”
“I call for establishment of an anti-corruption infrastructure that will trace and return stolen assets to their countries of origin. Corruption does not differentiate between developed and developing countries. It is serious threat to good governance, peace and security
“Tackling the menace of corruption is not an easy task, but it is possible even if many feathers have to be ruffled.
“This consideration informed my decision to attend this event as well as the anti-corruption summit organised by Prime Minister David Cameron that will be held tomorrow.”
The Prime Minister had referred to Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt” country during a meeting with Queen Elizabeth.
The comment generated negative reactions in Nigeria and across the world with Transparency International wading in and describing Britain as “a safe haven for corrupt assets”.
The UK Guardian has also slammed the PM, accusing him, Britain and the west of “epic hypocrisy”.