By KEMI KASUMU
The ruling Party spoke just as a respondent reminded this reporter that, “It is the usual way of the ‘few owners of Nigeria’, among whom Obasanjo claims to be, for them to make sure they clear all ills of whoever they have agreed upon to use as front. That was what they did to Obasanjo himself an ex-convict when he was taken from prison and imposed on Nigeria as PDP’s presidential candidate in 1999 and they bought all the media to work in that direction with Nigeria’s money. If there is any allegation that Obasanjo is lobbying USA to withdraw Atiku’s visa ban this time, I won’t dispute it. It is the way of the Mafia who feed fat on the sufferings of Nigerian masses,” the respondent said.
The Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who only on Thurday endorsed his former deputy and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Presidential Candidate in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is lobbying the authorities of the United States of America to withdraw the entry ban against him.
The APC made this revelation in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER.
The ruling Party spoke just as a respondent reminded this reporter that, “It is the usual way of the ‘few owners of Nigeria’ among whom Obasanjo claims to be for them to make sure they clear all ills of whoever they have agreed upon to use as front. That was what they did to Obasanjo himself an ex-convict when he was taken from prison and imposed on Nigeria as PDP’s presidential candidate in 1999 and they bought all the media to work in that direction with Nigeria’s money. If there is any allegation that Obasanjo is lobbying USA to withdraw Atiku’s visa ban this time, I won’t dispute it. It is the way of the Mafia who feed fat on the sufferings of Nigerian masses,” the respondent said.
The APC according to the statement said: “We have come across credible reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made moves to secure United States entry visa for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh. Atiku Abubakar, whose candidacy he endorsed on Thursday.
“It is learnt that that the former President who during and after leaving office insisted on Atiku’s unsuitability to govern Nigeria based on his knowledge of the latter’s extensive corrupt practices while he served as Vice President, is lobbying US authorities to withdraw the ban reportedly placed on Atiku from entering the United States following a 2005 $500,000 bribery scandal that involved Atiku, his fourth wife, Jennifer and former United States Congressman, William Jefferson.
“Recall that the former president while in office had deployed enormous resources of the country on a global dragnet coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in getting Atiku prosecuted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering.
“A report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin reported that Atiku used offshore companies to siphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer while still the vice president of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008.
“The report further stated that then President Bush had on the strength of his report, barred Atiku and other corrupt politically exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States, a reason for which he has been unable to travel to the United States till date.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention in Alh.Abubakar Atiku’s ban from the United States of America is evidence of Obasanjo’s legendary hypocrisy and self-serving interest in national affairs.”
