Granting Atiku visa could look like endorsement for 2019, Lai Mohammed warns US

The Federal Government has cautioned the United States against granting visa to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it could create the impression that it has endorsed him for the 2019 elections.

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, made the government position known on the issue at an interactive session with media executives in Abuja on Thursday.

He said, while the US has the prerogative of whom to issue visa, it should be mindful of the timing.

Mohammed said the government was aware of the move by the former former vice president’s lobbyists effort to make US lift the visa ban imposed on him.

“We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the US to grant a visa to anyone who applies,” he said.

“However, we want the US to be neutral and be wary of taking any decision that will give the impression that they are favouring or endorsing one candidate over the other

“Impression must not be created that the US government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other.”

The Minister said that for years, there had been a kind of congressional bi-partisan investigation on corruption against certain individuals which had made it difficult for Atiku to secure a US visa.

“I am sure you will all recall the Jefferson’s case and the cold 90,000 US dollar in fridge,” he said.

“We are not unaware that Atiku has engaged the services of some lobbyists to persuade the US to issue visa to him.

“Our position is that if the former Vice President is seeking the US visa we have no problem about it.

“However, we want the US government not to create the impression that it is endorsing one candidate over the other.”