Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has urged the United States to be careful about granting visa to Abubakar Atiku,presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The minister said this, during an interactive session with media executives in Abuja on Thursday. The Information Minister stated further that, it would give the impression that the US was endorsing Atiku for the 2019 presidential election, if it issues him visa now.
Mohammed also revealed that the federal government was very aware that steps have been taken by Atiku, to get the US to grant him visa.
“We understand and appreciate the fact that it is the prerogative of the U.S. to grant a visa to anyone who applies.
“However, we want the U.S. 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 U.S. government is endorsing one particular candidate over the other.’’
“We are not unaware that Atiku has engaged the services of some lobbyists to persuade the U.S. to issue visa to him. “Our position is that if the former Vice President is seeking the U.S. visa we have no problem about it.
“However, we want the U.S. government not to create the impression that it is endorsing one candidate over the other.’’
