Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has urged US authorities not to punish Nigerian people with the visa ban allegedly placed on Nigeria but those in the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who are allegedly responsible for the increasing level or terrorism in the country with their glaring failure to address the matter.
Major news reports in the last couple of days noted that Nigeria is one of about seven countries that will suffer the impacts of an extended visa restrictions planned by the President Trump administration, following to the increasing presence of deadly terrorist groups and their increasing activities that have killed scores in Nigeria in recent days.
Atiku, in a statement he personally signed on Saturday, expressed sadness over the visa ban on Nigerians by the Trump administration.
“I understand the reasons given by the Trump administration (the failure of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration to share information and to address issues of terrorism), the ban does not take into account the pro-American sentiments of the Nigerian public and the solidarity previous Nigerian administrations have had with the United States.
“I urge the government of President Donald Trump to consider the history of US-Nigerian relationships. Nigeria was one of the few African nations that joined the US led coalition during Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1991, when the United States championed the liberation of Kuwait,” Atiku said.
The Wazirin Adamawa also admonished the US President to also consider the pivotal role Nigeria, in partnership with the US, played in bringing peace to Liberia, an American sphere of influence, that now enjoys democracy because Nigerian blood and money paved the way for peace in that nation.
He noted that Nigeria has also consistently voted in support of the United States and her allies at the United Nations and other multi-lateral world bodies. He added that Nigeria is perhaps, the biggest trading partner that the United States has in Africa, even where Nigeria had alternatives.
“Nigerians love the United States and have been a major force for the positive development of that great nation: 77 per cent of all Black doctors in the United States are Nigerians. Nigerians are also the most educated immigrant community in America. Surely, the US stands to benefit if it allows open borders with a country like Nigeria that is able to provide skilled, hardworking and dedicated personnel in a two-way traffic.
“The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigeria people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies.
“Once again, I call on President Trump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population,” Atiku urged.
Innocent Odoh
