Fresh details emerged Sunday on why fromer Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, lodged at one of leading Trump’s Hotels while on a recent campaign tour of United States of America at Washington DC.
Donald Trump is current United State President and prior to becoming the US President, had been in control of real and hotel estate industry in the country.
During his visit in America, Atiku shared his plan to get Nigeria working again in a roundtable discussion with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and leading top US government officials whom observers say was a key reason behind lodging at Trump’s Hotel.
Business Hilights US Bureau Chief reports that during the visit, Atiku was accorded high level diplomatic security as US Guard Services was in charge of his safety during the trip to douse tension in Nigeria over allegations of possible arrest by US government on trailing but yet to be unsubstantiated corrupt practices.
On why Atiku touched down at the venue of the debate in Abuja and left, PDP explained that its presidential candidate did not take part because President Muhammadu Buhari failed to attend.
On why he was at the venue but declined to partake, he averred that “I arrived the Congress Hall of the Hilton venue of the #2019Debate. This debate and the election is a referendum on the incumbent”.
“We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies.
“With respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu & to moderator Mark Sugar & with apologies to Nigerians here & at home expecting an interesting debate, I regret I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence.
“I however challenge President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well.
He ended saying “Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
It was not clear if among the reasons President Buhari avoided the debate was his attendance on the earlier NTA programme known as’ The Candidate’ which he had attended or for fear of confusion.
Aside meeting with captains of industry and US investors in Washington, Atiku, who had rushed back to Abuja for the BON-organised Presidential Debate, had a town hall meeting with PDP members in D.C Metropolis.
