A former President and a Washington based firm have been named in the lobbying for the issuance of visa to the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

According to findings made by our correspondent, the ex-President, who demonised Atiku in the past and called him unprintable names, has been coordinating lobbying for him as “part of a rebranding project” to enable relevant authorities and institutions to buy into 2019 poll in Nigeria.

A top source said yesterday that the ex-President has been involved in creating international image crisis for President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The source said: “I think it is a Cold War thing between pro-visa elements and those against it. Whatever alarm the Federal Government is raising stemmed from intelligence reports on the dimension the politics of visa for Atiku is assuming.

“From preliminary findings, a former President is actually the one coordinating lobbying for the issuance of the US Visa to Atiku alongside a Washington-based firm. The vicious colour of the lobbying is what has made it an issue.

“The ex-President and other lobbyists have been turning the facts upside down in order to have their way within the US government and at congressional level.

“The ex-President and the PR firm said to be on $90,000 per month have already drawn up some interactive engagements for PDP candidate in the US to mobilise international support for the PDP candidate.”

In the US, those against Atiku have equally stepped up attack on him and are reminding the White House and the Congress about the “unresolved issues concerning him, and what the former President now chief lobbyist had said about the PDP presidential candidate.”

“One or two ministers have also been to the US to hold talks with some institutions and officials on why the American government has to be cautious in handling the visa matter.

“It is left to the US Government to weigh options on whether or not to complete the visa process for Atiku, “a highly placed source said yesterday.

As at press time, it was gathered that Atiku had left Nigeria for the United Kingdom on Thursday night after the inauguration of PDP Presidential Campaign Council.

“I think it is when he returns that he will complete his visa process. But the fingerprints have been done,” another source added.

Speaking with our correspondent last night, one of the strategists of the PDP candidate, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, said: “What has granting of visa by another country got to do with the capacity, acceptability and effective strategies to get Nigeria working again in the election of a sovereign nation like us?

“What is even the big deal going to America when Donald Trump has sounded it loud and clear that he does not even want foreigners to come to America again?

“Why should a man who wants to become President of a big country like Nigeria make travelling to America one of his campaign points, when we all know that once he becomes President, the same America will urge him to come and visit?

Speaking yesterday on the visa controversy, the United States Consulate, Lagos, said the issue remained a strictly confidential matter, which the American government will not discuss publicly.

The Public Affairs Officer (PAO), US Consulate, Lagos, Brussel Brooks, said irrespective of the social standing or interest of the society in the matter, the US government will give the matter the strict confidentiality it requires.

The PAO made the disclosure in an interview with journalists at the end of an education forum organised for 150 teachers and students drawn from various public schools in Oyo State.

Dignitaries at the event include representatives of Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, students and teachers, among other stakeholders in the sector.

The programme, entitled: “Teaching Resources: Availability, Applicability and Appropriateness”, held at the Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan.

It was organised by Fulbright Language Scholars’ Association under the leadership of Miss Tolu Akinwole and funded by the US Consulate.

The organisers said the programme had trained a total of 350 teachers in Oyo and Ondo states in 2018 with the focus of “igniting vibrant teachers and provide solutions to observed inability of students to apply lessons they learn in classrooms to everyday life.”

Speaking on the Atiku US visa status, Brooks said although the case has been a topical issue in the media for a while, the US would still maintain its stand of taking visa matters as highly confidential, irrespective of the individual concerned.

He said: “The position of the US mission has remained the same throughout any discussion of this issue, that visas are a confidential matter.

“We don’t discuss individual visa’s status of any person, whether it be a highly rated official, a presidential candidate or an average citizen.

“Anyone who applies for a visa should know that there will be some records that are confidential. It is classified as private document by the United States Government and we never discuss them in public.

“We would only enjoin candidates at all levels, especially presidential, governorship and National Assembly, to focus on issue-based campaigns and avoid distractions.

“We advise Nigerians to ask candidates at all levels the plan they have to improve education and other aspects.

“Often times, unfortunately, campaigns are full of distractions, things that are not that important to the lives and welfare of average Nigerians, especially the children that are with us today.

“What is important for them is to give them the opportunities to serve in order to thrive in today’s world.

“This means they need good education. The school should be improved.

“When I heard the letter from the students describing their lack of books and dearth of desks in their school. This is very disheartening. There are things that should be corrected.

“I will also encourage parents and voters to ask the candidates what they plan to do to improve education. I think issue-based campaigns will be beneficial to all Nigerians.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/ex-president-u-s-firm-named-atikus-visa-row/

Bye bye APC. May ur soul Rest in Peace. APC will forever be remembered as a party that never united Nigerian.

the nation newspaper should focus on the arbitrary Buhari/APC performance and nonexistent achievements in the last 4 years.


Let vanguardngr do the needful on Atiku.

.

Mtchew

Any jargons just for likes and shares. Febuhari is here already. Your eyes will open.

celeiyke:
Bye bye APC. May ur soul Rest in Peace. APC will forever be remembered as a party that never united Nigerian.

ATiku’s profile has risen significantly since APC focused its campaign on him. I predicted that this will happen. That Was the mistake GEJ crew made in 2015, history is repeating itself again.

Once Atiku travels to the US, the rest would be history for Buhari and APC

weyreypey:
the nation newspaper should focus on the arbitrary Buhari/APC performance and nonexistent achievements in the last 4 years.


Let vanguardngr do the needful on Atiku.

The Nation newspaper is entitled to report all factual news about Atiku Abubakar. Anybody that intends to be president must be put under media scrutiny before, during, and after the election.

Obasanjo and the PDP lobbyist can do all they can to get Atiku American visa, it still won't stop him from losing the election. Buhari's victory next year is already signed, sealed, and delivered.

TheNATION Toiletnewspaper. The dying media propaganda arm of Thieefnubu Jagabandit, Liar Mohammed and their Advanced Political Criminals (APC) party.

Believe at your own peril.

#FAKENEWS

madridguy:
Any jargons just for likes and shares. Febuhari is here already. Your eyes will open.

You mean Failbuhari.

All Zai zombies eyes go clear!

seunmsg:


The Nation newspaper is entitled to report all factual news about Atiku Abubakar. Anybody that intends to be president must be put under media scrutiny before, during, and after the election.

Obasanjo and the PDP lobbyist can do all they can to get Atiku American visa, it still won't stop him from losing the election. Buhari's victory next year is already signed, sealed, and delivered.

Tinubu's the Nation newspaper is doing a terrible job so far in spreading falsehood and propaganda

Why is The Nation shy of mentioning the name of the ex-president? Could it be because OBJ sued a presenter for 1 billion naira a while ago and even warned a TV station against libelous report about him.

I like the response of the US official though. Visa Application is confidential and who gets what and when should not be the business of any third party.

A government that should be penning its obituary notice is worrying about Atiku whose government will be full of life. If as at now Buhari and his comrades in corruption do not know there is no hope for them then I think they are in a bigger mess than I thought.

So says Tinubu's newspaper


Nigerians are no fools. Propaganda got you there in 2015, but it will destroy you in 2019.

,if u are need of durable ,quality cars,am here to give u d best ,make ur December a memorable one with our cars,check my signature for my details

All this Atiku visiting USA na wash. We'll keep hearing Atiku will, Atiku wants to visit USA untill election.

Do we all remember Gbenga Daniel on national tv channels tv to be precise where he said that they've secured a US visa for Atiku.

If you've secured a visa for Atiku on October as said by Gbenga Daniel why going for another visa on November.

Do we remember Doyin Okupe statement last month November that Atiku will vist USA before November ending.

Please Nigerians may we all ask Doyin Okupe what is today's date December 1st, November has just finished has Atiku gone to USA.

PDP thinks we are babies and have fish brains like them, every day we keep hearing Atiku has applied for visa, Atiku has secured US visa, Atiku will visit USA soon.

Mark my word Atiku will never make such a mistake of visiting USA for now as a former vice president, he'll only vist if and only if he wins 2019 election, then he can visit as incoming president or president by then immunity covers him and America can no longer arrest him again.

Since 2014 we've being hearing Atiku will visit USA when PDP first challenged him to visit. Four (4) years after we are still hearing i will visit. Meanwhile as an ordinary man myself since 2014 i have visited same USA twice.

PDP park well jare!

socialmediaman:
ATiku’s profile has risen significantly since APC focused its campaign on him. I predicted that this will happen. That Was the mistake GEJ crew made in 2015, history is repeating itself again.

Once Atiku travels to the US, the rest would be history for Buhari and APC

is one thing to apply for visa, is another thing to be granted visa, is yet another thing to travel, is another thing to return

KenOne:
All this Atiku visiting USA na wash. We'll keep hearing Atiku will, Atiku wants to visit USA untill election.

Do we all remember Gbenga Daniel on national tv channels tv to be precise where he said that they've secured a US visa for Atiku.

If you've secured a visa for Atiku on October as said by Gbenga Daniel why going for another visa on November.

Do we remember Doyin Okupe statement last month November that Atiku will vist USA before November ending.

Please Nigerians may we all ask Doyin Okupe what is today's date December 1st, November has just finished has Atiku gone to USA.

PDP thinks we are babies and have fish brains like them, every day we keep hearing Atiku has applied for visa, Atiku has secured US visa, Atiku will visit USA soon.

Mark my word Atiku will never make such a mistake of visiting USA for now as a former vice president, he'll only vist if and only if he wins 2019 election, then he can visit as incoming president or president by then immunity covers him and America can no longer arrest him again.

Since 2014 we've being hearing Atiku will visit USA when PDP first challenged him to visit. Four (4) years after we are still hearing i will visit. Meanwhile as an ordinary man myself since 2014 i have visited same USA twice.

PDP park well jare!

Corruption: The US Senate report that finally nailed Atiku Abubakar



has received a report on how Atiku was the subject of a probe ten years ago, by a United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin.

The report detailed how Atiku Abubakar while still the vice president of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008, used offshore companies to siphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer Douglas.

Specifically, the report said Jennifer Douglas, an American citizen, helped her husband bring over $40 million in suspect funds into the United States through wire transfers sent by offshore corporations to U.S. bank accounts.

In 2004, the then President Bush barred Atiku and other corrupt politically exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States

The US Senate probe was motivated by US government concern about corruption in the Third World and its corrosive effects on the development of honest government, democratic principles, and the rule of law.


The report unveiled violations of US laws by Atiku and his fourth wife, Jennifer Douglas. It also included revelations about Siemens bribe paid into one of the accounts, and it possibly provided the basis for Atiku being barred from entering the United States, since then.


https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/12/03/corruption-us-senate-report-finally-nailed-atiku-abubakar/

Atiku violated the laws of the United States Of America and Nigeria, but unlike in NIGERIA, they enforce their laws in the US.

In 2004, the then President Bush barred Atiku and other corrupt politically exposed persons from being issued a visa to the United States.

See why Atiku cannot obtain US Visa?

Executive order laid down by the President of the United States of America. Looters of public funds and criminal elements can get away and evade justice in Nigeria, but not in America. Just like Ibori, he bought his way out of jail in lawless Nigeria, but not in the UK where he couldn't escape justice.

They can lobby all they want, but their lobbyists can not over turn an American presidential executive order banning Atiku from entering the USA.


What's even more important here is the reason why he can not go to the USA.

He's a thief, a crook who stole and shipped our money to the USA. He should first clear his name before asking Nigerians for votes.

Apart from his case with the US Senate and the presidential executive order banning Atiku from entering the USA, the FBI/DOJ Jefferson case is still active.

Why some Nigerians are considering this crook baffles me.

APC said he can't go to the USA, now he wants to go and they're crying blood again. What's their problem and what do they want?

Atiku

weyreypey:
the nation newspaper should focus on the arbitrary Buhari/APC performance and nonexistent achievements in the last 4 years.


Let vanguardngr do the needful on Atiku.

WHO STILL READS VANGUARD LMAO

THE SAME VANGUARD THAT REPORTED SOMETIME AGO THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS COMING TO NIGERIA TO ATTEND A BURIAL IN THE EAST!!
.

VANGUARD IS PRO PDP ND THEY HAVE LOST IT!

.THE ONLY CREDIBLE NEWS OUTLET NOW IS PREMIUM TIMES!

idealogical:
Apart from his case with the US Senate and the presidential executive order banning Atiku from entering the USA, the FBI/DOJ Jefferson case is still active.

Why some Nigerians are considering this crook baffles me.

Just like it baffles many of us why some people are considering re-electing Buhari. Someone who understands nothing (as in zero) about the economy he’s managing, someone who’s visibly running down the economy, a confirmed hypocrite who fights opposition instead of corruption; does not even understand corruption talk less fighting it, and one of the biggest of them all, a divisive nepotistic leader with archaic unchanging views.

We elected the tyrant because we were tired of GEJ’s lukewarm attitude to fighting corruption, his passive attitude towards the huge unemployment despite abundant resources. But the tyrant comes in and makes everything worse, causes more job losses and cannot even fight any corruption, every institution remains same or worse and he has one of the worst economic policies that scares investors.

Really, the 2019 election is not about electing Atiku, but more about voting out Buhari and protecting Nigeria’s democracy.

[s]

socialmediaman:


Just like it baffles many of us why some people are considering re-electing Buhari. Someone who understands nothing (as in zero) about the economy he’s managing, someone who’s visibly running down the economy, a confirmed hypocrite who fights opposition instead of corruption; does not even understand corruption talk less fighting it, and one of the biggest of them all, a divisive nepotistic leader with archaic unchanging views.

Really, the 2019 election is not about electing Atiku, but more about voting out Buhari and protecting Nigeria’s democracy.

[/s]



Wrong thread, this is not about PMB, this is about Atiku and the presidential executive order banning him from entering the USA.

I know you don't like PMB, but PMB remaining in office is up to Nigerians to decide at the polls. Take your PVC to the polls.

socialmediaman:


Just like it baffles many of us why some people are considering re-electing Buhari. Someone who understands nothing (as in zero) about the economy he’s managing, someone who’s visibly running down the economy, a confirmed hypocrite who fights opposition instead of corruption; does not even understand corruption talk less fighting it, and one of the biggest of them all, a divisive nepotistic leader with archaic unchanging views.

We elected the tyrant because we were tired of GEJ’s lukewarm attitude to fighting corruption, his passive attitude towards the huge unemployment despite abundant resources. But the tyrant comes in and makes everything worse, causes more job losses and cannot even fight any corruption, every institution remains same or worse and he has one of the worst economic policies that scares investors.

Really, the 2019 election is not about electing Atiku, but more about voting out Buhari and protecting Nigeria’s democracy.

Just like how gej was voted out. Because this same buhari had been rejected 3times.

Its just that people have found out its was a grave mistake.

Will anyone consider atiku if buhari did a third of what he promised?

Security, corruption and economy are all going to the abyss and he wants to be reelected.

idealogical:
[s][/s]

Wrong thread, this is not about PMB, this is about Atiku and the presidential executive order banning him from entering the USA.

I know you don't like PMB, but PMB remaining in office is up to Nigerians to decide at the polls. Take your PVC to the polls.

You’re damn right I don’t like PMB, for good reason too because I campaigned for him to win in 2011 and 2015, and there are millions like me who have since moved on. I’m glad it’s up to Nigerians to decide because there’s no doubt what the decision is

idealogical:
Apart from his case with the US Senate and the presidential executive order banning Atiku from entering the USA, the FBI/DOJ Jefferson case is still active.

Why some Nigerians are considering this crook baffles me.

Who signed d executive order banning atiku from entering d US? Are executive orders meant 4 banning people accused of money laundering from entering d US?

codedguy1:


Just like how gej was voted out. Because this same buhari had been rejected 3times.

Its just that people have found out its was a grave mistake.

Will anyone consider atiku if buhari did a third of what he promised?

Security, corruption and economy are all going to the abyss and he wants to be reelected.

Don’t mind them. These Buharideens won’t really get it, History will likely repeat itself again! The once "unelectable" Buhari suddenly has access to power and thought it was all about him. Shame!

Tinubu newspaper writing a guess article....

lexy2014:

Who signed d executive order banning atiku from entering d US? Are executive orders meant 4 banning people accused of money laundering from entering d US?

Seriously, you don't know how to read and comprehend?

The article is up there, it's bolded and highlighted in red.

gurunlocker:
Tinubu newspaper writing a guess article....