There were strong indications, on Saturday, that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, may have finally secured a visa to enable him to visit the United States.
Checks within the main opposition party and the campaign organisation of the candidate said Atiku had since left the country as a prelude to visiting the US.
Efforts to get the his spokesman, Paul Ibe, to confirm the development did not succeed last night as calls put through to his phone were not responded to, but it was learnt the he might leave for Us today.
An online news platform, TheCable even reported that a family source confirmed that the former vice-president had indeed left Nigeria for the United Kingdom, where he will spend some time before flying to the US.
Minister of Information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had last Thursday cautioned the US against granting visa to Atiku..
Asked to comment on Atiku’s visa status on Friday, Rusell Brooks, spokesman of the US consulate in Lagos, had said issuance of visa to Nigerians irrespective of their status is strictly a confidential matter.
He said the US government would not discuss such confidentiality in public.
There were speculations that former President Olusegun Obasanjo played a “critical” role in getting the American government to issue the visa to his former deputy with whom he was estranged for almost 15 years.
Atiku, who is widely travelled, has not been to the US in 13 years, fuelling speculations that he might be avoiding possible arrest or prosecution.
His political opponents had used his absence from the US not just to taunt but to discredit him.
His row with the US authorities began after the FBI investigated a bribery scandal involving William Jefferson, former US congressman, in 2004.
Atiku was accused of demanding a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to two American telecommunication firms in Nigeria.
The FBI had searched his residence in the posh neighbourhood of Potomac, Maryland, but no money was found.
The investigators had videotaped Jefferson, who was the congressman representing Louisiana, receiving $100,000 worth of $100 bills which he claimed was meant for Atiku, but the former vice-president has consistently denied the allegation.
Despite Atiku’s claim to innocence, the controversy raged.
Two months before he declared interest in the 2019 presidential race, Atiku granted an interview to Dele Momodu, celebrity journalist, where he clarified his absence from the US.
“It is the sole prerogative of America to determine who they want in their country or not,” he said.
“I’m not running away from America. I applied but wasn’t issued a visa.”
He said the US did not categorically deny him visa.
“They’ve only said my application is going through administrative process,” he said.
Some All Progressives Congress (APC) members had alleged that Brian Ballard, publicist of US President, Donald Trump, was working towards relaxing the visa ban on Atiku.
Make he go come back if his real name is Athiefku.USA no be Nigeria ooooh were dey do selective prosecution.Obj is trying so hard to package this bad market that has been consistently denied USA visa for the past 13 years.Why was he denied visa that even common men are getting daily.Why did he use proxy to sell off his mansion in USA.Athiefku not all of us are fools oooh.We shall open ur yansh.
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https://thejour.com/news/atiku-quickly-returns-to-nigeria-after-failing-to-secure-us-department-of-justice-assurances-of-entering-us-without-being-arrested/
Make him go make campaign end.
Buharist could be sleepless for a decade by hearing this news
APC and their yeye blind supporters will not still have sense oooo….Is it a must Atiku go to US?Or do we have Aso Rock in US?Nawa ooo
Apc Dared Atiku To Go To U.s, Now The U.S Want To Grant Him A Visa, They Are Beging U.S To Not To Give Him The Visa.
US are hater of Nigeria Democracy by try to impose looter on Nigerian
If they arrest him there over the halliburton scandal the wailers should not blame APC
I believe all this APC haters should go and hang transformer now Atiku have gotten visa to travel to America. Government of propaganda and deceits
Ogebe Basil The way Obama imposed Buhari on Nigerians, isn’t it?
Atiku has proved Nigerians and his critics wrong by Securing US Visa.
Please BUHARI should do us a favour by removing his Cap.
Abdulrasheed Muhammad Abdullah Most of them are having heart attacks , am told
AMERICAN VISA – What Was Atiku’s Offence?
‘NIGERIA Cannot Have A President That Will Beg to Enter Another County – NEVER.’
Since he left office in 2007 he has not been able to set his foot on American soil, not that he doesn’t want to but the system blocked him. Every other past Nigerian political office holders of Atiku’s status check in and out of America at will, but not Atiku – Why?
Now that he is desperately seeking to be Nigerian President, he has to beg and lobby, and possibly spent a fortune to get VISA, VISA to visit a Country that ordinary past LG chairmen visit effortlessly. Why is Atiku’s case different – What Offence has he committed?
The reason why he was blocked from entering America for more than 10 years is even more important than getting the VISA.
Nigeria is too big to have a President that will beg and lobby to visit any other Country. So we just have to move to the NEXT LEVEL.
If he go and come back, people like you should bury your face in shame.I’m really convince a lot of APC supporters need deliverance
Atikulated man …shame your evil wishers
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This will not silence the pessimists; nothing but the failure of his ambition by the haters of mankind progress
His Excellency Atiku ABUBAKAR Wazirin of Adamawa is unstoppable
#BREAKING
Atiku Abubakar has returned to Nigeria after failing to secure assurances from the US Department of Justice that he will not be arrested if he sets his foot into the soil of the United State.
Waziri Adamawa secured a US visa and had travelled to the United Kingdom from where he will fly into the United state where he had not been able to step foot for more tha n 13 years.
“His mission in the United Kingdom is to get the British Government to help him secure the assurances of the United States Department of Justice that he will not be arrested upon setting foot in US soil. But the British government is reported to have informed Abubakar that the US Department of Justice has made it clear that it cannot guarantee he will not be arrested.”
Michael Edafe Igbe Obama don’t I appreciated your mindset. Nigeria had no electoral college as US.wheir cyber attack Come in..or vote buy
They’ve already taken APC as their God on earth, it will be difficult to come to their normal senses bros
Sorry for your ignorance , the developed countries didn’t play with criminal cases. In fact , the America Visa is a traps for Atiku Abubakar , let us wait and see
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Make him travel first oooo
pdpigs are not APC if america like give him multiple ViSA he can not used it to win or america can not tell us who to vote for in my small village in edo state we will give PMB all the vote ahhahhahhahahhahahhahahhahahahha America de learn make they try north Korea hahahhahahahha
Ogebe Basil mr slave Who is not a looter in Nigeria?
And so?
Atiku usa visa has nothing to do with us in nig.
Foolish….. Its dat will makes him to win election…… Mumu
Let him go and come safe
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PDP IS A DEN OF KILLERS -(Prof. Wole Soyinka)
Read through PDP’s killing history.
Like I stated earlier, may Atiku’s competence not kill all of you. Before this dispensation, under PDP’s misrule, which Atiku was actively part of for 8yrs, nearly all murder cases were swept under the carpet and remain unresolved. To the extent an Attorney General was killed!
Late Chief Bola Ige, as a sitting Attorney General of the Federation was shot dead in his bedroom in Bodija, Ibadan in December 23, 2001.
Similarly, Chief Aminasaoari Dikibo, PDP Deputy National Chairman was ambushed near Asaba in daylight and was murdered in October 22, 2004.
What about the gruesome cold blood murder of Dr. Harry Marshal on March 05, 2003, at the climax for the 2003 presidential elections? Google who his son and family are accusing of masterminding his assassination. The killers are within us.
A rundown of some of the notable assassinations between 1999 – 2014:-
Janet Oladape, PDP leader in Odigbo LGA clubbed to death by gunmen on August 13, 2002.
Alhaji Ahmed Pategi, Kwara State Chairman, PDP, murdered at Aiyetoro, in Kogi State, on the 15th of August, 2002.
Barnabas Igwe, Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and his wife, Abigail Igwe, murdered on the 1st of September, 2002.
Victor Nwankwo: younger brother of Arthur Nwankwo, founder, Eastern Mandate Union (EMU) assassinated on August 29, 2001.
Momoh Lawal: relation of Akaaba, former Chairman, Okene LGA in Kogi killed on March 5, 2001.
Odunayo Olagbaju: member, Osun House of Assembly, killed in Ile-Ife on December 21, 2001
Chimere Ikoku: former VC, UNN, killed in his residence in Enugu on 20th of October 2002.
Dele Arojo, PDP guber aspirant, killed by unknown assailants in Lagos on November 25, 2002.
February, 2003, Chief Ogbonnaya Uche, ANPP senatorial candidate in Imo, assassinated.
Theodore A. Agwatu, Principal Secretary to the Governor of Imo State, killed in February 2003.
Mrs. Emily Omope, an AD woman leader died in March, 2003 at UCH Ibadan after an acid attack in December, 2002 by unknown persons.
February, 2003 Ogbonnaya Uche, ANPP senatorial candidate for Orlu was killed in his home by unknown gunmen. Killers are yet to be found till date.
Andrew Agom, A member of PDP Board of Trustees and former boss of Nigeria Airways, was also killed on March 4, 2004. Agom was on the entourage of the former Benue State governor, Senator George Akume, when he was killed.
Death moved to d South West on May 15, 2005 with d murder of leading financier of Oronmiyan Group, a socio-political organization, Alabi Okoju, at Gbongan by assassins.
On July 2006, Lagos PDP guber aspirant, Funsho Williams was killed at his Dolphin Estate home Ikoyi, Lagos.
Former World Bank consultant and PDP guber aspirant in Ekiti State, Dr. Ayo Daramola, was also murdered in 2006.
Kehinde Fasuba, a look alike twin brother of Taye Fasuba, then Ado-Ekiti LG Chairman was killed on January 03, 2009. Taye Fasuba himself escaped death in 2004.
The assasination of DIPO DINA was a huge personal loss to me. On Monday, January 25, 2010 assassins shot and killed him around Covenant University, Ota. Dipo Dina was AC guber candidate in 2007. Gbenga Daniel indicated recently that Amosun should be investigated for his death.
Unlike now that we are all free to tweet nonsense at Buhari, In the years under review, your freedom to life as a journalists, after excising your freedom of speech was not guaranteed. Godwin Agbroko, Chairman, ThisDay Editorial Board was assassinated on December 22, 2006.
Another ThisDay journalist, Abayomi Ogundeji, was murdered on August 17, 2008. Those who know better are insisting that his death may have been political. People who are aware at about this period in our political history knew it was dangerous working at ThisDay Newspapers then.
Another journalist, Bayo Ohu of Guardian Newspapers was shot dead on a Sunday, September 20, 2009 by a gang of 5 men and a woman in his home in Egbeda, Lagos. Bayo Ohu was working on the Certificate Forgery story of Customs Controller General, Abdullahi Dikko before his murder.
Here is a summary of notable unresolved killings of journalists and politicians in Nigeria. Please pay attention to the dates:
1. Igwe Nwankwo – Shot February 15, 2000 in Anambra.
2. Nicholas Okhuakhua Shot June 2000 in Lagos.
3. Mohammed Shuaibu Shot September 2000 in Lagos.
4. Obatou Mumbo Shot October 17, 2000 in Onitsha.
5. Idowu Braimoh Shot November 5, 2000 in Ondo
6. Joseph Osayande December 4, 2000 shot at Benin
7. Chief Layi Balogun December 10, 2000 shot in Lagos.
8. Monday Ndor August 19, 2001 shot at Port Harcourt.
9. Onyebuchi Ede shot August 23, 2001 Ebonyi.
10. Chibueze Idah August 23, 2001 Ebonyi Shot Unresolved
11. Ogbonna Odimbaiwe August 23, 2001 Ebonyi Shot Unresolved
12. Ifeanyi Nnaji August 23, 2001 Ebonyi Shot Unresolved
13. Odunayo Olagbaju December 20, 2001 Ife Shot Unresolved
14. Chief Bola Ige December 23, 2001 Ibadan Shot Unresolved
15. Eyo Eyo April 2002 Calabar Shot Unresolved
16. Ifeanyi Igbokwe April 18, 2002 Lagos Shot Unresolved
17. Musa Dayo May 9, 2002 Bauchi Shot Unresolved
18. Christopher Ogbonna May 26, 2002 Nsukka Shot Unresolved
19. Maria-Theresa Nsa June 11,2002 Cross River Shot Unresolved
20. Chief & Mrs. Barnabas Igwe September 1, 2002 Onitsha Shot Unresolved
21. Ogbonnaya Uche February 8, 2003 Owerri Shot Unresolved
21. E. Emenike February 13, 2003 Imo Shot Unresolved
22. Theodore Agwatu February 22, 2003 Owerri Shot Unresolved
23. Marshal Harry March 5, 2003 Abuja Shot Unresolved
24. Bala Mai-Haice March 17, 2003 Deba Shot Unresolved
25. Ajibola Olanipekun June 21, 2003 Ibadan Shot Unresolved
26. Dikibo February 6, 2004 Delta Shot Unresolved
27. Lateef Olaniyan July 16, 2005 Ibadan Shot Unresolved
28. Peter Eboigbe August 11, 2005 Benin Shot Unresolved
The list is endles s! This isn’t to say the internal security has improved today, but at least, so far, we have little or no political scores settled by political assassins.
Nigerians please think twice and do not use your hands and resources to return PDP to power. A vote for PDP at the center is a vote for return of political assassination across the states and Abuja. Do not forget the battle to end Boko Haram bequeathed to us to settle political scores with one of their own, GEJ is still on. The heightened herdsmen/farmers crisis is researched as political blackmail tool of the opposing PDP. Innocent souls were lost in four states in north central.
Ask yourself, how old is Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria history?
How come they were not deadly under Buhari when he was a military head of state?
How come fulani/farmers massive killings in 2017 to mid 2018 has stopped after Nigerian govt delpoyee troops to Benue and arrests were made?
Is this the first time a Fulaniman will be president and commander in chief?
Can a government sponsored insecurity against herself?
Nigerians should ask questions and query every popanganda authored by opposing PAPA DECEIVING PINKIN PARTY (PDP). Let us reason together and answer above with sincerity. Do not fall for propaganda and blackmail of political class hungry for looting to resume at Aso Rock and massive looting in states without fear of the centrally controlled EFCC, ICPC and fear of GOD.
Vote for Next Level for rebuilding of Nigeria to continue in the interest of next generation. Let us endure the pains of rebuilding for tomorrow.
Pass this on……….
Coming to America of Atikuloot