Following warnings of impending terror attacks on Abuja from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Germany, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held a crucial meeting with representatives of the United States State Department in Washington, DC, on Friday.
Atiku and Assistant Secretary, the States Department, Bureau of African Affairs, Molly Phee, were in charge of the discussion, which was primarily focused on improving cooperation with US authorities on Nigeria’s security concerns, elections, and democracy.
The meeting last night with officials of the State Department, according to sources on the PDP presidential candidate’s side, “could not have come at a better time with the terrorist threat alert by the U.S., UK, and Canada and the withdrawal of its non-essential staff by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.”
The subject of conversations, according to a news release issued on Saturday and signed by Atiku’s media adviser Paul Ibe, was “the vital need to seek collaborative solutions to our local concerns on democracy and governance, our worsening security, and our economy.
“Most importantly, the meeting secured commitments to support for free and fair elections in Nigeria, an announcement of a sanction policy before the elections to deter anti-democratic forces, and commitments for continued partnership with Nigeria in areas of security and development.”
Other officials of the States Department at the meeting included Karl Fickenscher, Acting Assistant Administrator, USAID; Scott Busby, Acting Principal, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour; Michael Heath, Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of African Affairs; Brian Neubert; Director Office of West African Affairs, among others.
Former Senate President and Special Envoy to the PDP presidential candidate Dr. Bukola Saraki, Governor of Sokoto State and Director-General of the PDP presidential campaign council Aminu Tambuwal, and former governor of Imo State Hon. The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, and Elumelu Ndudi.