Despite repeated warnings from the Nigerian Federal Government to the contrary, the United States Embassy in Nigeria has granted opposition presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar Visa to the United States.
According to The Cable newspapers who quoted a family source, the Atiku left Nigeria for the UK immediately he got the Visa; he is expected to head to the United States from there.
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It was learned that Atiku’s former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo had been instrumental in the issuing of the Visa the presidential hopeful.
The action might not sit well with Nigeria’s government who have capitalized on the fact that the former vice president has not visited the US in thirteen years to malign and defame his person.
The Presidency had alleged that Atiku could not visit the US because he had a corruption case and would be jailed upon his entry.
Atiku had however said repeatedly that for reasons unknown to him, the US embassy had refused to grant him Visa anytime he applied.
Atiku had been accused of demanding bribe to the tune of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to two American telecommunication firms in Nigeria; a deal which included a former US congressman, William Jefferson, former US congressman, in 2004.
The FBI had searched his residence in the posh neighborhood of Potomac, Maryland, but no money or evidence was found.
Despite Atiku’s insistence on his innocence, the Buhari campaign organization as well as executive arm of government had vilified Atiku on that premise.
Two months before he declared interest in the 2019 presidential race, Atiku granted an interview to Dele Momodu of Ovation Magazine where he clarified his inability to travel to the US.
In that interview, Atiku had reiterated that;
“It is the sole prerogative of America to determine who they want in their country or not. I’m not running away from America. I applied but wasn’t issued a visa.”
Nigeria’s Minister of information, Lai Mohammed had issued a warning to the US government not to grant Atiku a visa as it may be perceived as an endorsement of the opposition candidate by the US government.