The Presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that the USA is backing his Presidential bid.
The former Vice-President was finally allowed back unto American soil after 13 years and he claimed that Nigerians were being lied to about why he had not travelled to America for a long time. He said that it was not corruption as many have been led to believe.
Speaking with the Voice of America, he said that he would not be in the country if he had not been granted a visa and he also revealed that his meeting with American congressmen was about Nigeria and ways in which to deepen the ties between the two nations.
When asked during his interview with the VOA whether he had the backing of the USA, he said simply, “Yes,”
READ: Atiku Never Told Anyone About Collecting US Visa – Top Official
When probed about it further, he was a little bit more forthcoming.
“There is no doubt because the United States is ready to support any country that is practicing democracy.”
On the visa issue and the fact that it was all a simple misunderstanding, he said:
“The whole thing is about misinformation… for a very long time they, have been lying to them (Nigerians); I tried to explain to them but they refused to listen. And I hope now people are going to understand.”
“And now they have issued it (Visa) to me and I am here. I’m having some positive discussions with some of the officials,” he said.
“I was in the Congress and I had discussions with some high ranking Congress men and Women about Nigeria and how Nigeria intends to improve her relationship with the United States of America.”