Atiku’s Team Says There’s Nothing Special About India and Dubai Deals

The camp supporting presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed skepticism about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent activities at the G20 summit in India and his subsequent dealings with the UAE.

According to a statement by Atiku’s spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, they do not view the lifting of the visa ban on Nigerian travelers by the UAE as a significant achievement.

Bwala argued that the UAE had imposed the visa ban due to the non-payment of funds owed to them by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He emphasized that Tinubu’s promise to repay these funds does not qualify the deal as groundbreaking. Furthermore, Bwala pointed out that the removal of the visa ban does not necessarily equate to increased foreign investment. He noted that the UAE is known for attracting investments into their own country rather than investing in foreign lands.

In Bwala’s view, the so-called landmark deal primarily benefits the UAE, as it continues to receive questionable funds and investments from alleged corrupt Nigerian public officials.

Bwala also said there is no mention of the deal on the UAE government website or in any government public statement issued by the UAE. He said this is because the UAE does not want to commit until Nigeria fulfills its promise to repatriate the emirate’s money.

He therefore urged Nigerians not to be carried away by photo-ops, handshakes, and statements until they see timelines and deliverables. He said the government should focus on addressing the problems confronting the country, such as multi-dimensional poverty, corruption, healthcare, education, insecurity, and state-sponsored threats.

Bwala wrote on social media:

“THERE IS NOTHING LANDMARK ABOUT INDIA AND DUBAI DEAL

I am an optimist, but there is nothing landmark about the lift of the ban on visa and travel restrictions . Firstly, the flight ban was occasioned by Nigerias’ CBN non payment of funds belonging to emirate. PBAT promised to pay back. Visa restrictions was occasioned by Nigerians increased crime rate in the UAE

Secondly, whilst the lift of travel is okay, but it does not translate to foreign investment, as UAE prides itself in attracting investments into their country but not in UAE investing in foreign lands, so expect nothing from UAE in Nigeria. The so-called landmark deal is to the benefit of UAE that continues to receive illicit monies and investments by alleged Nigerias’ corrupt public officers into the UAE. What we need is strengthening of the mutual legal assistance agreement for repatriation of stolen funds belonging to the government of Nigeria in the UAE

Thirdly, there is nowhere in any UAE government website or government public statement issued by UAE you will find what spokesman to PBAT issued about the so-called landmark deal; do you know why? Because UAE does not want to commit until Nigeria fulfills her promise to repatriate emirate’s money to UAE

Lastly, do not be carried away by any photo-ops, handshakes and statements until you see timelines and deliverables. We have seen the movie before in the last administration with Siemens, Mambila power project etc. They are all over the media saying they have attracted billions of dollars from India, even when non of those investors published on their website or in any Indian local news outlets of the said investment plans. YOU CAMPAIGN IN POETRY AND GOVERN IN PROS. You don’t govern in poetry my friends.

Come back to NIgeria and address the problems confronting us to wit, multi-dimensional poverty, corruption, healthcare, education, insecurity, state sponsored threats, crisis of legitimacy etc.”

Recall that on Monday, Bwala had previously mocked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his invitation to attend the G20 summit in India.

He said that the G20 had a “global picnic” and that Nigeria’s president was invited to “watch brief and see the importance of picnic.”

Bwala said the G20 meeting was a waste of time and that Nigeria would not see any benefits from it unless the government reforms its laws, allows the private sector to thrive, breaks the backbone of corruption, and provokes national consciousness and patriotic action.”

Recall that on Monday, Bwala had mocked Tinubu’s invitation to attend the G20 summit in India, saying it was a waste of time and that Nigeria would not see any benefits from it unless the government reforms its laws, allows the private sector to thrive, breaks the backbone of corruption, and provokes national consciousness and patriotic action.