Atiku’s US visit seen boosting electoral chances

After a 12-year deprivation of visa to a country he once lived and owned properties, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar landed in the United States of America on Thursday in what is seen by many as step to boost his chances ahead of the 2019 elections.

A close source to the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) confirmed to our cor- respondent yesterday that Atiku has arrived Washington DC, the US capital.

The former vice president was said to have travelled to the US with some associates and friends, including Mustapha Chike Obi, former DG of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the former vice president to travel to the

US if he was innocent of an alleged case of money laundering in the US, with Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, even cautioning US authorities against issuing Atiku a visa into the country.

This visit is billed to generate much political capital for the Wazirin Adamawa. By this visit to the US, Atiku has crossed one of the most serious political hurdles on his path ahead of the upcoming general elections.

Atiku is billed to speak at a forum by the American Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. from 2:30pm to 4pm local time, Friday, and attend other meetings aimed at boosting his presidential election standing, according to campaign sources.

Atiku has not visited the US since 2007 when his tenure as Nigeria’s vicepresident ended.

His inability to secure a visa fuelled over the years speculations that a secret indictment had been entered against Atiku by US authorities.