Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was unable to enter the US for 15 years due to “religious considerations”.
Atiku was quoted as saying this in an interview with Dele Momodu, publisher of The Boss newspaper.
Momodu asked him what offence he committed that made him to “run away from US” but Atiku said he has not visited the country because he is yet to be granted entry visa.
“It is the sole prerogative of America to determine who they want in their country or not,” he was quoted to have said, adding that: “I’m not running away from America. I applied, but wasn’t issued a visa.”
He said the US did not “categorically” deny him visa rather, “they’ve only said my application is going through administrative process.
“This is not peculiar to me. For about 15 years, Buhari could not enter America on account of religious considerations.”
Atiku also cited the case of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who he said was also unable to enter the US “for years”.
He said: “Today, he (Modi) is being treated to red carpet treatment in America. I fly to different parts of the world, including Europe, if America wanted me, it would be so easy for them to reach out to their allies.”
In 2001, Buhari had reportedly called for the “total” implementation of Islamic law in Nigeria.
“I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria,” Buhari was quoted to have said.
“God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country.”
The president has on several occasions denied advocating for Nigeria to be governed by Sharia law.