TheCable

Timi Frank, former deputy spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked leaders of the ruling party to check their blood pressure to “avoid unforseen circumstances” following the visit of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to the US.

In a statement on Friday, Frank said this is because of the propaganda allegedly peddled against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

The APC had said tiku could not visit the country because he was running away from investigations and possible arrest by the US authorities.

In 2004, Abubakar was accused of demanding a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to two American telecommunication firms in Nigeria.

William Jefferson, former US congressman, was videotaped receiving $100,000 worth of $100 bills which he claimed was meant for Atiku.

The former vice-president has repeatedly denied the allegation.

The ex-deputy spokesman of the ruling party said the visit of the PDP presidential candidate to the US has shown that the allegations were only a ploy to demonise him.

He said Thursday night must have been “a sleepless one for some leaders of APC who had lied to their supporters about Atiku.”

“APC made it a campaign issue that Atiku can never step on American soil without being arrested. In fact, I have read so many APC supporters who vowed to vote for Atiku if he does. Now, I believe they can now deal with it,” Frank said.

“Obviously stunned by the reality, I advice those of you still in APC or supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid to have a change of mind now by joining the moving train because the development has nailed the coffin of the APC’s propaganda.

“Recall a statement credited to the minister of information and culture calling on the US not to give Atiku a Visa to the country. Lai Mohammed also stated that if Atiku is given a visa, it will amount to an endorsement by the US government.

“The minister should now know as predicted by him that by the special grace of God America will endorse Waziri Adamawa because he is a better candidate than President Muhammadu Buhari.”