Afegbua To Atiku: Your Visit To The US, A Show Of Shame

Former commissioner of Information in Edo State, Prince Kassim Afegbua and the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation have clashed over the celebrated visit of Atiku Abubakar and former vice president and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the United States of America.

The Sun News reports that while Afegbua said it was a shame the PDP candidate was celebrating his visit at a time flood had sacked several communities in Nigeria, the campaign organisation said the foreign engagements would yield massive investment and jobs, if he is elected president in next year’s polls.

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According to Afegbua: “At a time that most Nigerian villages and communities are heavily flooded, it takes an unconscionable mind to be celebrating an entry into the United States like when a baby jumps at a piece of chocolate.

“A leader that wants to preside over Nigeria ought to be – at this critical time of our ecological disaster – around to share and commiserate with his people and also, show humanitarian presence; especially as he was here when the incident happened. Only people who are blinded by inordinate ambition, display their greed and hunger for power and damn all consequences, to sail through.”

Afegbua said Atiku travelled with those he referred to as “his musketeers” on a “negotiated” entry visa to escape arrest because he still has some cases to answer to in the United States.

He further said, “In deliberate effort to impress his supporters and followers, Atiku Abubakar and his musketeers have again travelled to The US on negotiated entry just like in 2019.

This time, he was seen with his musketeers parading empty corridors in photo-ops to impress us back home. The truth of the matter is that, Atiku Abubakar still has questions to answer because he has not been discharged and acquitted of his corruption allegations that border on money laundering in The US. In 2019, he was granted negotiated entry, just like now; this is his leave to create the impression that all was well.”

He noted that the former vice president must address the questions on why he was allegedly barred from entering the United States and if he has been cleared of the said allegations.

“Was he indeed barred from entry before now? What were the factors or reasons for his initial ban? Have those issues been addressed? Has he been discharged and acquitted of those allegations? Why this so-called celebration if there are no undertones?

“Atiku Abubakar was received in the United States by those who were on his entourage. They posted photographs of themselves like members of Jacobian scandal club of post-independence America. When the subject matter is unsailing, they will resort to banner display, showing that Atiku Abubakar was going to take Houston by storm. They were parading the streets of America like directionless straying flock. They think we are fools. With all that is hanging on his neck, no American official would usher Atiku Abubakar into their presence. I doubt that Americans are used to having presidential candidates with dubitable character. For Atiku, I will recommend first things first strategy; clear your name and the rest can follow. That is how upstanding people behave. Nigerians have now come of age, and are no longer politically illiterate; hence they are asking pertinent questions about this yet “mysterious” trip.”

But the Atiku camp, in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, said Atiku’s current visit the United States(US), where he is scheduled among other things to engage with the Chamber of Commerce’s US-Africa Business Center, would further build policy thrusts that will fast-track economic recovery and enhance peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.

“Atiku Abubakar’s visits are centered on engagements with policy influencers in the bid to engender an international collaborative solutions to our national challenges including the economy and security which have been ruined by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.