Atiku Abubakar the presidential candidate of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has said that the visa restriction placed on some Nigerian politician by the United State of America (USA) for their roles in undermining democracy and the 2019 general elections confirms his stand that the elections were rigged.
Atiku said the travel restriction was also a confirmation that he won the 2019 presidential election and that some state actors and institutions undermined the result of the presidential election.
This is even as Ebenezer Babatope, a former minister, and Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, applauded the move. However, Balarabe Musa, former governor of the old Kaduna State, deplored the US action, saying it amounted to interference.
In a message to the media, Wednesday, and signed by his media adviser Paul Ibe, Atiku accused the current administration of deliberate propaganda to cover up the electoral fraud.
The United States, Tuesday, said it had begun moves to place visa restriction on corrupt Nigerians and individuals who acted to undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
The US, however, noted that it was committed to work to advance democracy and respect for human rights in the country, but hinted that it would move against those whose acts of violence, intimidation, or corruption harmed Nigerians or undermined the democratic process in the country.
Several international election observers groups, including the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria, in their final report on the 2019 general elections concluded that the elections were marked by severe operational and transparency deficiencies, including electoral security problems, low turnout and abuse of incumbency power.
Atiku further urged Nigerians not to despair, or give up, stressing that he was optimistic that there was hope for the country in which the current socio-economic challenges bedevilling it would be tackled by a purpose driven government.
“In the aftermath of the daylight robbery that occurred on Election Day, the regime of General Muhammadu Buhari and its allies went into a propaganda overdrive to deny the obvious,” Atiku said.
“However, it is a truism that no matter how far and fast falsehood, or in this case, rigging, has travelled, it must eventually be overtaken by truth. It seems that day has come. After many months of living in denial, the Buhari regime is now faced with the truth in the form of a US visa ban on politicians who undermined Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
Atiku, former Vice President under the Olusegun Obasanjo, further thanked the United States of America for standing with the Nigerian people against individuals who desired to truncate the nation’s democracy.
“The myriad of security, economic and social challenges Nigeria currently faces, which has resulted in our nation becoming the world headquarters for extreme poverty will, God willing, soon be over, with the prospect of purposeful and result oriented leadership,” he said.
However, some political leaders who spoke in separate interviews with BusinessDay Wednesday expressed mix reactions over the visa restriction on some politicians.
Second-republic governor of old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, disagreed with the policy, noting that it amounted to unnecessary interference in the affairs of the country.
“Such interfering in the affairs of Nigeria is not necessary. Personally, I do not understand such policy, it is unnecessary at this point,” he said by phone from Kaduna Wednesday.
Former Minister, Ebenezer Babatope, however, applauded the US decision, noting that the United States had the powers to take such a stand, and that it would serve as deterrent to others
“Such a move should be applauded. The US is free to take its stand on the Nigeria general elections. We know the way the election went; it was widely manipulated.
Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary of pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, agrees, saying the United States’ decision was commendable. He urged other nations across the world to make their positions on the election known.
“I am happy to know their stand. This would serves as deterrent for other Nigerians to know that they can’t do anything and get away with it,” Odumakin said.
“We remember before the election, a governor said that observers that came into Nigeria would go back in body bags. What do you expect when a government openly says that,” he said.
Atiku is currently challenging the result of the presidential election at the tribunal. Political stakeholders have equally advocated for serious electoral reforms in the country, due to the systemic failings and low level of voter participation recorded during the 2019 polls.
Meanwhile the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) said it is instructive that the United States is taking the step in spite of efforts by opposition figures led by the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, to turn the US government against the newly elected government with false narratives.
BMO said in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, that the US State Department’s position showed the futility of the opposition’s efforts to demonise the government before, during and after the 2019 elections.
“We acknowledge the decision by the American government to impose visa ban on individuals responsible for undermining the last electoral process or organising election-related violence. It is in line with a warning the US issued before the election, and we note that it is within the rights of the Americans to do so.
“And by making it clear that the actions are not directed at the government that emerged from the process, the US has tacitly cleared the Buhari administration of involvement in acts of political violence inspite of efforts by lobbyists engaged by the PDP to taint the President’s victory.”
Iniobong Iwok & Innocent Odoh
