Chidi Samuel|
While endorsing the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar, the flagbearer of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, former president Olusegun Obasanjo pledged to help mend fences and make amends for him both locally and internationally.
Obasanjo said, “There are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you have to mend fences and make amends. You will know how to handle what is already out and what may yet be put out by the opposition. But, I am convinced that if you continue with the attitude that brought you here with these distinguished leaders of goodwill, with remorse and contrite heart, the rest of the coast within and outside the country can be cleared. And if there is anything I can do and you want me to do in that respect, I will do.
Barely a day after, the All Progressives Congress said it has received credible information that Obasanjo is lobbying the United States of America to lift an alleged travel ban on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena said this in a statement, in Abuja, on Friday.
According to him, the ex-President has made moves to secure United States entry visa for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku, whose candidacy he endorsed on Thursday.
The APC said it learnt that Obasanjo who during and after leaving office as president insisted on Atiku’s unsuitability to govern Nigeria based on his knowledge of the latter’s extensive corrupt practices while he served as Vice President, is lobbying US authorities to withdraw the ban.
According to the statement, the ban was placed on the former Vice President following a 2005 $500,000 bribery scandal that involved Atiku, his fourth wife, Jennifer and former United States Congressman, William Jefferson.
The statement read, “Recall that the former president while in office had deployed enormous resources of the country on a global dragnet coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in getting Atiku prosecuted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering.
“A report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin reported that Atiku used offshore companies to syphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States, Jennifer while still the vice president of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008.
“The report further stated that then President Bush had on the strength of his report, barred Atiku and other corrupt politically-exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States, a reason for which he has been unable to travel to the United States till date.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention in Alhaji Abubakar Atiku’s ban from the United States of America is evidence of Obasanjo’s legendary hypocrisy and self-serving interest in national affairs”, the statement concluded.