Ime Akpan
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Atiku Abubakar, has arrived in Washington DC on a visit to the United States.
Atiku who arrived in the country on Thursday is expected to hold meetings with US government officials, the business community and the Nigerian community in the course of the visit before returning to Nigeria on Saturday.
Atiku, who is visiting the US for the first time in more than a decade, broke the news of the trip when he twitted: “Just arrived Washington DC for a meeting with US government officials, Nigerians living in DC metropolis and the business community. – AA”
Besides, his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe, said Atiku arrived in the United States at 20.20 hours (14.20 hours Washington DC time).
“Thursday morning, he left Abuja accompanied by the DG of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and Senate President, Senator. Bukola Saraki for the United States,” said Ibe.
Also on the entourage is the director general of Atiku’s campaign and former governor of Ogun State, Mr. Gbenga Daniel.
It would be recalled that the PDP presidential candidate had not visited the US since he left office as vice president in 2007 because the US government did not grant him entry visa.
In an interview some time in 2017, he hinted that he was denied a visa by the US authorities: “I applied, but wasn’t issued a visa. However, they did not decline me categorically either. They’ve only said my application is going through administrative process.
“It is the sole prerogative of America to determine who they want in their country or not. I’m not running away from America.”
After he emerged the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku reapplied for the visa and was granted, thus enabling him to visit the country.
