After a 12-year deprivation of visa to a country he once lived and owned properties, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar landed in the United States of America on Thursday in what is seen by many as step to boost his chances ahead of the 2019 elections.
A statement issued on Thursday evening by the Media Adviser to to Atiku Paul Ibe said the PDP presidential candidate arrived at 20.20 hours (14.20 hours Washington DC time).
“Yesterday, Atiku Abubakar met with the business community in Lagos at an interactive session to unveil his plans to get Nigeria working again.
“Thursday morning, he left Abuja accompanied by the DG of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki for the United States.
“Atiku Abubakar will in the course of his trip hold meeting with US government officials, the business community and the Nigerian community.
“He returns to the country on Saturday,” the statement said.
The former vice president was said to have travelled to the US with some associates and friends, including Mustapha Chike Obi, former DG of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the former vice president to travel to the US if he was innocent of an alleged case of money laundering in the US, with Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, even cautioning US authorities against issuing Atiku a visa into the country.
This visit is billed to generate much political capital for the Wazirin Adamawa. By this visit to the US, Atiku has crossed one of the most serious political hurdles on his path ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Atiku is billed to speak at a forum by the American Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. from 2:30pm to 4pm local time, Friday, and attend other meetings aimed at boosting his presidential election standing, according to campaign sources.
Atiku has not visited the US since 2007 when his tenure as Nigeria’s vice-president ended.
His inability to secure a visa fuelled over the years speculations that a secret indictment had been entered against Atiku by US authorities.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
