The news is not that Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is in Washington DC, the United States Capital. Two things should be the news. His high profile delegation. And the way he shut political enemies who taunt him that he had been barred from the United States, and/or that he had a case to answer over an alleged $40m money laundering in the US.
In the former Vice President’s official delegation are the following: Aminu Tambuwal, a man with a couple of caps. Tambuwal, a Lawyer, is the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Chairman, Nigerian Governors, Forum, Governor, Sokoto State, and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, a former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, medical doctor-turned politician, a former two-time Governor of Kwara State, The Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, a former Governor of Imo State, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and, Honourable Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, among others.
With the high profile delegation, Atiku quietly made a statement: “I am not alone, I am taken seriously in my country.”
The visit, also, afforded him an opportunity to take the wing off allegations that he was facing money laundering charges in the US, and would be arrested if he set foot on the soil of that country, a reason, they allege, he goes to Dubai instead. The opposition has lost on that score.
But in a Press Statement on Friday, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, disclosed that Atiku, who is expected to spend one week in the US, will use the opportunity “to share his vision for Nigeria with US business communities and young Nigerian professionals in North America.”
The full text of the statement reads:
Why Atiku is visiting US
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday, arrived Washington DC, United States on a working visit.
“The visit will afford the PDP Presidential Candidate the opportunity of high-level engagements aimed at setting the pace for building an economically stronger and more secure Nigeria.
“Atiku will be in the US for a week-long engagement that will opportune the frontline Presidential Candidate share his vision for Nigeria with US business communities and young Nigerian professionals in North America.
:The delegation of the former Vice President comprise senior members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, personal aides and other members of the PDP.
Those in the official delegation include the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Governor of Imo, Emeka Ihedioha and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, among others.”
Atiku is the second major Presidential candidate to visit the US in recent weeks.
The first was the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who, even though he traveled with no high profile Delegation, had a successful outing across a number of States in the US.
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