The senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani, has described as “unpatriotic and condemnable” the call by Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that the American Embassy should exercise caution in granting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar a travel visa.
In an interaction with media executives on Thursday, Mohammed said that granting Atiku visa so close to the 2019 election could be interpreted to mean that the United States was favouring one candidate over another.
The minister said, “We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the US to grant a visa to anyone who applies. However, we want the US to be neutral and be wary of taking any decision that will give the impression that they are favouring or endorsing one candidate over the other.
“Impression must not be created that the US government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other. I am sure you will all recall the Jefferson’s case and the cold $90,000 in fridge.
“We are not unaware that Atiku has engaged the services of some lobbyists to persuade the US to issue visa to him. Our position is that if the former Vice President is seeking the US visa we have no problem about it.
“However, we want the US government not to create the impression that it is endorsing one candidate over the other.”
But Sani, a Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) senator, condemned the call.
In a tweet via his verified Twitter handle, Sani said, “Telling a foreign country not to grant visa to your fellow citizen on the ground that he is a candidate;and with no ‘proven case of criminal offense’ or breach of national or international law, is not just an unpatriotic act but a condemnable act.”
See tweet:
Telling a foreign country not to grant visa to your fellow citizen on the ground that he is a candidate;and with no ‘proven case of criminal offense ’ or breach of national or international law,is not just an unpatriotic act but a condemnable act.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) November 30, 2018
Read Also: Visa Controversy: Nigerians, Not Americans, Will Elect Atiku – Timi Frank Tells Lai
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