Festus Keyamo, spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, has mocked the recent trip by presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the US.
Commenting on the trip, Keyamo described it as a “clandestine visit” with the “trappings of a fugitive sneaking into America under a special waiver diplomatic waiver”.
The APC campaign spokesperson said it was an “anomaly” for the PDP presidential hopeful to embark on such a visit without international press coverage.
“Rather than being the highpoint of his campaign, the American visit is indeed the lowest watermark of Atiku Abubakar’s campaign. It was a political and P.R disaster,” Keyamo said in a statement.
“The statements he released from there only to the Nigerian Press back home that he intends to alienate other countries and do business with the U.S is actually the antithesis to our policy of non-alignment.
“Therefore, we were not surprised by his visit to the U.S. For us, this visit is really a non-event considering the issues involved in the forthcoming election.
“However, we have bad news for those who think this is a momentous event for Atiku Abubakar: the visit was nothing but a downright catastrophe because rather than dispel the fact of indictments hanging over his head, it further confirms and reinforces those facts.
“Whoever advised Atiku Abubakar to undertake that trip to America just destroyed his entire campaign and exposed him for who he is – a questionable character who has continued to leave huge questions over his suitability for the highest office of the land and as such cannot be trusted by the Nigerian people.
“In all, it is very obvious now that the so-called American trip was a desperate trip for photo-ops.
“Throughout the trip, Atiku Abubakar looked cagey, frightened and on edge. We note the close support always provided by Senate President Bukola Saraki like a comforting guardian angel.
“The visit and arrangements smack of things local yahoo yahoo boys do to scam their victims. It is utterly disgusting and puerile that it has been brought into a serious political contest.”
Keyamo also faulted Atiku’s campaign slogan—“get Nigeria working again”—claiming that the former vice president plans to use public funds to enrich his friends if elected as president.
“As confirmed by him in a town-hall meeting a few days before his disastrous trip to the U.S, he said he wants to “get Nigeria working again” only for few of his friends who he claims he wants to make rich,” the statement read.
“If he cannot get them rich now from his private businesses, it is obvious that he is referring to the use of public funds to make his friends rich.
“Nigerians should judge for themselves whether this is the type of President they want.”
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