Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, has said that the United States visa ban on some Nigerians suspected to have undermined democratic process in Nigeria has vindicated the claims of the opposition that the 2019 elections conducted by President Buhari’s government were marred by malpractices.
The former Vice President said this on Wednesday in a statement issued through his media Adviser, Paul Ibe, saying “after the conduct of the February 23, 2019 Nigerian Presidential elections, we maintained that the polls were rigged, not credible and that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar won the elections and that his mandate was stolen.”
The US State Department on Tuesday announced that it will officially impose visa restrictions on individuals or groups suspected of undermining democratic processes in Nigeria.
It said the decision was not specifically targeted at the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari but to assist the government’s efforts and commitment to end corruption and strengthen democracy, accountability, and respect for human rights.
“The United States is a steadfast supporter of Nigerian democracy. We commend all those Nigerians who participated peacefully in the February and March 2019 elections and have worked to strengthen Nigerian democratic institutions and processes.
“As Nigeria marks the twentieth anniversary of a return to democratic rule this year, we remain committed to working together to continue to advance democracy and respect for human rights and achieve greater peace and prosperity for both our nations. We condemn those whose acts of violence, intimidation, or corruption harmed Nigerians or undermined the democratic process.
“To that end, the Secretary of State is imposing visa restrictions on Nigerians believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria. “These individuals have operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and undermined democratic principles and human rights,” the US explained.
Atiku in the statement alleged that in the aftermath of the daylight robbery that occurred on Election Day, the government of General Muhammadu Buhari and its allies went into a propaganda overdrive to deny the obvious.
“However, it is a truism that no matter how far and fast falsehood, or in this case, rigging, has travelled, it must eventually be overtaken by truth. It seems that day has come. After many months of living in denial, the Buhari regime is now faced with the truth in the form of a US visa ban on politicians who undermined Nigeria’s democracy,” Atiku said.
Atiku added that the US ban is a vindication of the party’s position that the 2019 elections were “undermined” by the actions of state actors and institutions.
“We also wish to thank the United States of America for standing with the Nigerian people against those whose desire it is to truncate our democracy.
“Finally, we urge the Nigerian people not to despair. There is hope on the horizon. There is light at the end of the tunnel. The myriad of security, economic and social challenges Nigeria currently faces, which has resulted in our nation becoming the world headquarters for extreme poverty will, God willing, soon be over, with the prospect of purposeful and result oriented leadership,” Atiku said.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
