Bill Clinton To Meet Buhari, Atiku On Eve Of Nigeria’s Presidential Election

Former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, will meet President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the eve of Nigeria’s presidential election, according reports.

Clinton will arrive Nigeria on February 15 to meet with President Buhari, who is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Punch reports that the former U.S President’s visit to the country is not unconnected to the upcoming general elections. The report said Clinton will be departing Nigeria immediately after his meeting with the two leading candidates in the presidential poll.

Responding to media inquiry over the development, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena, confirmed the report but said the former U.S President’s planned visit is not official.

”Mr Clinton’s visit is not an official visit, it has no consequence to the party. I am aware that President (Donald) Trump did not even direct him to come and discuss any matter with President Buhari,” Nabena told Premium Times.

”Maybe he (Clinton) just wants to visit Mr Buhari as a former president as he has no ‘influence’ or anything to do with the government,” he added.

Meanwhile, the United States has been showing keen interest in Nigeria’s general elections which come up in less than 10 days from now.

The country expressed hopes that the coming elections in country will represent nothing short of the will of the people.

In a broadcast message through its Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, the U.S said: “The elections are a remarkable opportunity for all Nigerians to come together and for every citizen to express their will. What the United States hopes to see in your elections in this year 2019 are elections that are free, fair, credible and above all transparent. In this process, I know one thing: it is absolutely important for the citizens of Nigeria to personally take part, beginning right now by knowing what your rights are. On election day, you won’t have an effect unless you vote. It’s important that you work together to make sure that your votes are counted.