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Persona Non Grata: Names Of Nigerian Politicians, Governors On US Visa Ban List Released
The names of Nigerian Governors and politicians blacklisted from entering the United States have been revealed.
The United States deemed this politician and governors persona non grata over the ignoble role they played in Nigerian electoral system.
In a statement issue on Monday by a spokesperson for the Department of State, Morgan Ortagus, the US listed the governor affected by the US as Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and Yahaya Bello of KOGI.
Also on the list is former governor of Edo State and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria’s ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole,
Similarly, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, northern Nigeria, on the other hand, had his own visa ban extended. He has been banned from entering the US since 2010 over a corruption case.
Also Read: BREAKING: US Imposes Visa Ban On Election Riggers In Kogi, Three Others
US officials disclosed that more Nigerian politicians may be blacklisted from entering the US after the Edo governorship election scheduled for September 19 if they are involved in electoral malpractice.
Those affected by the latest US Visa ban list have received notification by email and or text messages, it was learnt.
Ortagus said the persona non grata status of those affected is a punishment for eroding the democratic gains of Nigeria.
The statement reads, “In July 2019, we announced the imposition of visa restrictions on Nigerians who undermined the February and March 2019 elections. Today, the Secretary of State is imposing additional visa restrictions on individuals for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa states elections and in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo states elections.
“These individuals have so far operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and have undermined democratic principles.
“The Department of State emphasises that the actions announced today are specific to certain individuals and not directed at the Nigerian people. This decision reflects the Department of State’s commitment to working with the Nigerian Government to realise its expressed commitment to end corruption and strengthen democracy, accountability, and respect for human rights,” the statement on the Nigerian Governors on US Visa ban list added.
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