What a Nigerian literary figure and Journalism icon, Dr. Emman Shehu, described as possibly a public relations spin by the camps of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, may have been exposed as United States authority said it did not grant any visa to the former vice president as reported in the media (including The DEFENDER).
This came as a result of fresh findings which said Atiku was not given any Visa by the United States government.
Contrary to widespread reports on Saturday that Atiku was on his way to the US after a 13 year ban, an Embassy source has reportedly revealed that the US position on Atiku has not changed.
Although a source also revealed that the former VP did not even apply for a Visa from the U.S Embassy, some angry Nigerians are saying that “but for some media now waking up to their responsibility of investigative journalism even after they published the side of those that wanted it sunk to the skull of vulnerable citizens that Atiku had no problem with America, the so called source now denying Atiku ever applied for US visa and his political game players including would benefit from the widespread of misinformation”.
The Federal Government, observing that the U.S. wanted to grant Atiku visa, had cautioned that it would mean taking side with a particular candidate in the 2019 election by endorsing Atiku.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the government position at an interactive session with media executives in Abuja on Thursday. Mohammed had said that the government was aware of the move by the former Vice President to lobby the U.S. to lift the visa ban imposed on him.
“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,’’ he said.
