- The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, says the federal government is aware of the move by the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to lobby the US to lift the visa ban imposed on him
- Mohammed says while the US has the prerogative of whom to issue visa, it should be mindful of the timing
- The minister of information notes that there has been a kind of congressional bi-partisan investigation on corruption against certain individuals which had made it difficult for Atiku to secure a US visa
The federal government has told the US to be cautious in granting visa to the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in order not to create the impression of endorsing him for the 2019 election.
The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the government's position at an interactive session with media executives in Abuja on Thursday, November 29.
Mohammed said that the government was aware of the move by the former vice president to lobby the US to lift the visa ban imposed on him, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
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He said, while the US has the prerogative of whom to issue visa, it should be mindful of the timing, in order not to give the impression that Atiku has been endorsed by the US government.
“We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the US to grant a visa to anyone who applies.
“However, we want the US to be neutral and be wary of taking any decision that will give the impression that they are favouring or endorsing one candidate over the other
“Impression must not be created that the US government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other,’’ he said.
The minister recalled that for years, there has been a kind of congressional bi-partisan investigation on corruption against certain individuals which had made it difficult for Atiku to secure a US visa.
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“I am sure you will all recall the Jefferson’s case and the cold 90,000 U.S. dollar in fridge.
“We are not unaware that Atiku has engaged the services of some lobbyists to persuade the US to issue visa to him.
“Our position is that if the former vice president is seeking the US visa we have no problem about it.
“However, we want the US government not to create the impression that it is endorsing one candidate over the other,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the senator representing Ogun east, Buruji Kashamu has been appointed as the chairman of the 42-man Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state.
Vanguard reports that Bayo Dayo who was named as vice chairman of the committee charged the party members to work hard in every ward to ensure victory for PDP.
Dayo explained that the opposition PDP was set to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2019 general elections.
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