Former Vice President, and 2019 Presidential-aspirant, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the new US-travel ban that included Nigeria and five other countries, mostly African countries.
The former VP of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, in reacting to the ban, pleads with the President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump, to consider the long-standing good relations both country share and the love of the United States of America shared by Nigerians.
Nigeria is America’s biggest partner in Africa and is also the biggest economy and the most populated country on the continent.
The US travel-ban on Nigerians will have a lot of far-reaching implications.
The former Vice President, in his statement, reminded the President of USA, Donald Trump, that Nigeria has always stood by the USA in the UN and in its efforts to establish peace in Liberia, a country established by America.
Atiku also draws the attention of Donald Trump to the contributions of the Nigerian community, intellectual-wise, to America, reminding him that Nigerians are still the most educated immigrant community in America, and also contributes 77% of all black doctors in the States.
Read the complete statement released by Atiku Abubakar regards the US-travel ban on Nigeria below:
“I received with sadness the policy of the government of the United States of America to place Nigeria on its travel ban list.
“While I understand the reasons given by the Trump administration (the failure of the Muhamadu Buhari led administration to share information and to address issues of terrorism), the ban does not take into account the pro-American sentiments of the Nigerian public and the solidarity previous Nigerian administrations have had with the United States.
“I urge the government of President Donald Trump to consider the history of US-Nigerian relationships.
“Nigeria was one of the few African nations that joined the US-led coalition during Operation Desert Storm between 1990-1991 when the United States championed the liberation of Kuwait.
“The Trump administration may also consider the pivotal role Nigeria, in partnership with the US, played in bringing peace to Liberia, an American sphere of influence, that now enjoys democracy because Nigerian blood and money paved the way for peace in that nation.
“Nigeria has also consistently voted in support of the United States and her allies at the @UN and other multilateral world bodies.
“This is even as we are perhaps the biggest trading partner that the United States has in Africa, even where we had alternatives.
“Nigerians love the United States and have been a major force for the positive development of that great nation: 77% of all Black doctors in the United States are Nigerians.
“Nigerians are also the most educated immigrant community in America bar none.
“Surely, the US stands to benefit if it allows open borders with a country like Nigeria that is able to provide skilled, hardworking and dedicated personnel in a two-way traffic.
“The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigerian people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies.
“Once again, I call on President Donald Trump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population,” Atiku’s statement read.
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