Former US president, Bill Clinton, has announced his decision to cancel his trip to Nigeria ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for Saturday, due to fears that his visit might be “politicised.”
Clinton was set to visit Nigeria, with his main stop in Abuja, alongside Baroness Patricia Scotland, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
The proposed trip was facilitated by the Kofi Annan Foundation and the National Peace Committee (NPC), with Clinton to deliver a goodwill message during the signing ceremony of the National Peace Accord in Abuja scheduled for February 12 and 13.
Explaining the new development, Angel Ureña, spokesman for the former president, said in a statement: “Over the course of the last several days, and after various conversations with the different stakeholders, it’s become apparent that President Clinton’s visit to Nigeria has the potential to be politicised in a way that is not in line with the goals of the Committee. Therefore, he will not be traveling to Abuja.”
The statement also revealed that even though the former president had to cancel his trip, he will still talk to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party, and the leader of the Peace Accord committee and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, this week.
“This is a crucial time in Nigeria, and President Clinton is hopeful that the election’s outcome reflects the will of the Nigerian people,” his spokesman said.
Reacting to the cancellation of Clinton’s visit, PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, stated that the decision stemmed from recent statements from the APC camp, which put major international observers in a tough spot.
In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, the PDP flag bearer said: “We quite understand the reasons given by President Clinton, coming especially after the unfortunate “body bag” comment emanating from the All Progressives Congress.
“Atiku Abubakar also notes the harassment of friends of Nigeria by the Buhari administration and its agents and privies, who have taken to releasing and uttering statements threatening diplomats and election observers.”
Referring to a recent comment from governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai, where he explicitly stated that members of the international community who interfere in the elections will leave in body bags. Atiku expressed his disappointment in the situation, stating had been looking forward to the former American president’s visit.
