After unsuccessful attempts to secure the United States visa, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is set to visit the country on December 12, THE WHISTLER has reported.
Atiku, who has not travelled to the U.S since leaving power in 2007, is believed to have been denied entry into the country over his alleged involvement in the William Jefferson corruption saga that led to the raid on his Maryland home in the U.S by operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in 2005.
The purported visa ban on Atiku has occasionally been used by political opponents of the former Vice President to campaign against him in the past when he had contested the presidency.
But the narrative may have changed as the Turaki Adamawa may now be on his way to the U.S following an invitation to speak at an event in December.
The Director-General of Atiku Abubakar campaign Organization, Gbenga Daniel, also hinted that the PDP presidential candidate has been assured of a visa for the visit which is set to be a big boost for his campaign to be president of Nigeria.
“I can confirm to you that in the last few days, there have been signals from the American officials that he should indeed come forward. They want him to come; that they will grant him visa,” Mr Gbenga had said on a Channels TV programme on Wednesday, adding that “If you look at the newspapers in the last few days, we have a statement issued by the US state department that they have no issues whatsoever with Atiku Abubakar.”
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had during his reconciliation meeting with Atiku last month suggested that he would do anything within his power to help his former Vice have his alleged visa ban lifted by the United States.
“There are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you have to mend fences and make amends,” said Obasanjo, adding that, “the rest of the coast within and outside the country can be cleared. And if there is anything I can do and you want me to do in that respect, I will do.”