BREAKING: Atiku Departs USA To Abuja, Sets TO Clear Air On The Collapse of BankPHB
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has departed from the US after a two-day visit. Atiku left the US after holding a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Washington DC.
According to report, The PDP presidential candidate is expected to land in Abuja, in time for the televised presidential debate scheduled for 7pm Nigerian time.
The debate is between the leading presidential candidates which includes: Mr Buhari – All Progressive Congress (APC), Atiku – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Oby Ezekwesili – Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye – Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Kingsley Moghalu – Young Progressives Party (YPP).
It is unclear if President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will be in attendance following the recent statement of the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Itz sagay on the other presidential candidates.
Mr Sagay had in an interview with journalists described other presidential candidates, who are expected to feature in the debate alongside President Muhammadu Buhari, as ‘political dwarfs’
Atiku’s media aid in a statement had earlier stated that his Boss will boycott the debate if President Muhammad Buhari will not attend, giving Buhari’s participation as a condition of Atiku’s attendance.
Atiku’s arrival to Nigeria may generate uproar following the recent statement of the minister of information, Lai Muhammad, accusing him of playing a part in the collapse of the Fomer BankPHB.
Lai Mohammed, on Friday said Atiku will be grilled upon his return to the country.
“Mohammed said there is evidence that Atiku benefitted N156 million from slush funds that led to the collapse of the bank.
“Any time Abubakar returns home, he has questions to answer following the fresh evidence that we have that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of the former Bank PHB,” he had said.
Meanwhile, in a press statement by the The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO)csaid the allegations of Abubakar’s involvement in the collapse of the bank were fabricated to frame the candidate.
PPCO Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja that the candidate was already emerging victorious in the Feb. 16 Presidential election.
“The PPCO makes bold to state that Atiku has nothing to do with the alleged issues leading to the collapse of Bank PHB.
“Atiku is an honest and hard-working Nigerian who has no skeleton of any sort in his cupboard.
“The world already knows that this is an attempt to mudsling our presidential candidate,” he said.
PPCO Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja that the candidate was already emerging victorious in the Feb. 16 Presidential election.
“The PPCO makes bold to state that Atiku has nothing to do with the alleged issues leading to the collapse of Bank PHB.
“Atiku is an honest and hard-working Nigerian who has no skeleton of any sort in his cupboard.
“The world already knows that this is an attempt to mudsling our presidential candidate,” he said.