A former Vice President of Nigeria and Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has urged the government of United States of America, to reconsider the visa restrictions placed on the country.

Atiku, who made the plea on Saturday through his facebook page stated that, he understands the reason given for the ban, as it is the failure of the President Mohammadu Buhari led administration to address the issue of terrorism in the country, but the visa restrictions due to the inefficiencies of the country’s leaders will rather turnout to affect ordinary Nigerian.

He went further to reveal how the visa ban will affect the pro-American sentiments and solidarity that the Nigerian public and previous administrations have had with the United States of America.

“While I understand the reasons given by the Trump administration (the failure of the Muhammadu 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.”

While also stressing the past relationship and the support the United States has received from Nigeria in the past, Atiku stated that Nigeria was one of the few African nations that joined the US-led coalition during Operation Desert Storm between 1991-1992, that eventually liberated Kuwait.

He went further to remind the US President, Donald Trump, of how 77% of qualified and skilled black Doctors in America today are emigrants from Nigeria, and how Nigeria has consistently voted in support of the United States of America and her allies at the United Nations and other multilateral bodies.

”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. Nigeria has also consistently voted in support of the United States and her allies at the United Nations 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.”

The former PDP presidential candidate therefore, called on the US President to look at ways of of targeting those in government, who have failed in their duties rather than target the entire population.

”Once again, I call on President Trump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population,” he stated.