Bill Clinton, former US
president, will no longer travel to Nigeria to attend the signing of a peace
accord between President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, presidential
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the National Peace
Committee (NPC) led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, Clinton was
expected to be in Abuja on Wednesday to deliver an address and witness the
second national peace accord signing ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Apart from giving a goodwill
message, Clinton was expected to hold meetings with Buhari and Atiku.
Baroness Patricia Scotland,
secretary-general of the Commonwealth, was also billed to attend the event.
But in a statement on Monday,
Angel Ureña, Clinton’s spokesperson, said the former president’s visit to the
country might be politicised in a way that is not in line with the goals of the
committee.
“President Clinton appreciates
General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Nigerian National Peace Committee’s
invitation to travel to Nigeria,” the statement read.
“He is incredibly supportive and
respectful of the committee’s efforts, of the election process, and of the work
being done to try to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and transparent outcome.
“This is a crucial time in
Nigeria, and President Clinton is hopeful that the election’s outcome reflects
the will of the Nigerian people.
“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 politicized in a way that is not in line with the goals of the
committee. Therefore, he will not be traveling to Abuja.
“He looks forward to talking to
both candidates and General Abubarkar this week.”
Clinton announced his decision
hours after Festus Keyamo, spokesman of the Buhari campaign, accused the US of
interfering in the elections.
Keyamo also criticised Stuart
Symington, US ambassador to Nigeria, for “overstepping” his ambassadorial
brief.
Keyamo said the US and some other
countries were acting as if they were in support of the PDP.
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