Embattled Vice President Abubakar has explained why he chose to report the lingering rift between him and President Olusegun Obasanjo personally to the authorities and people of the United States, Empowered Newswire, a US-based Nigerian news agency has reported.


In a chat with the news agency from his US home in Potomac, Maryland, Atiku said he believed the international community, especially the Americans had a role to play in Nigeria’s political future.


Atiku’s inroad into the US forced the presidency to also dispatch a special envoy to the US last week.


The President’s Special Envoy and Minister of State for Transportation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who left the US on Saturday, however, said his meetings with the Forign Relations Committee (CFR) on Friday afternoon in Washington DC went very well.


Although he conceded that the meetings were tough with questions and answers, he said the presidency should do more of such international interaction.


Atiku, who is set to return home by this weekend, explained that “I believe that the 2007 transition and general elections require the support, understanding and assistance of the international community for it to succeed.”


In the last one week, Atiku had met some members of the US Congress, including Sam Lantos, the new Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, CFR, the influential US Council on Foreign Relations and other key Nigerian and US groups and individuals on his present travails with the president and how that may figure in the forthcoming 2007 elections.


Besides, the vice president is also known to be reaching out through his political associates and pro-democracy groups abroad to western European countries on the same issues he has been discussing with the Americans.


Talking for the first time about his meetings with the US Congress and the CFR, the vice president stated that he had a very fruitful meeting with the chairman of the US House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee and later with the CFR members.


“The meetings went very well, the responses have been very positive and they have all expressed concern about Nigeria. They all want a smooth transition in Nigeria,” the VP observed.


According to Abubakar, members of the US Congress informed him that they were now actually considering sending to Nigeria a congressional team before the commencement of the 2007 elections.

Guys do we preside over US election? why should the US meddle into our internal affairs? Is it now a case of Atiku must be President or else invasion by the US? why should the vice president of a nation put his ambition over national security? What do you think?

demonstration of craze

Atiku has lost his mind, and I still dont understand why he is so desperate to be president, we Nigerians Defy him, its time to let it go. he is a thief and we don't need people like that stopping our progression.

@Mckren

Why should the US meddle into our internal affairs?
If Nigeria sneezes, America will catch some cold. The result of political instability in Nigeria will affect the free flow of OIL in America. Obviously with Atiku been snookered with Buhari and Yar'dua this man understands that he has no chance of becoming Nigeria's next president. So I want to believe that he his trying to make life difficult for Mr. President to easily pass the batton onto Yar'dua.

Unfortunately we the people are the recipient of this mess - because when 2 elephants clash it is the grass that suffer

[/quote][quote author=McKren link=topic=36110.msg820633#msg820633 date=1168943657]

Guys do we preside over US election? why should the US meddle into our internal affairs? Is it now a case of Atiku must be President or else invasion by the US? why should the vice president of a nation put his ambition over national security? What do you think?

US is not meddling into our internal affiars. They are showing concern like every other nation. Just like Nigeria is showing concern in Liberia, Niger, Sierre lone etc. If US talk on Nigeria election is meddling into Nigeria internal affiars, then Nigeria is gulty too for meddling inot the internal affiars of Liberia.

Excellent move by Atiku.

Guys, open your eyes; Nigeria is seriously fragile and if special precaution is not taken before, during and after this coming presidential election, believe me, our down fall will be enormous.

What Happened to Liberia few years ago and what is currently going on in Somali will be tiny compare to what Nigeria and Nigerians will face.

The only solution at this point will be getting America involved before is too late.
We should all learn from Liberians who refused to get America involved till the POT busted. Believe me, we do not want that to happen here; Nigeria is too sweet, too beautiful and too precious not to take action to protect the nation.
Don't be silly and be smart, America has nothing to gain by assisting us during the 2007 presidential election. We have a-lot to lose if we count on this hopeless and greedy administration.

Hence I commend Atiku for taking the initiative by asking for American assistance; unlike other so so called leaders who prefer to go down and bring everyone along.

May God bless Nigeria.

ATIKU is a coward, is he not part of this so called administration for the last 8 years? why is he now seeking international help to assist him in fighting against his boss. all the time he has been eating the hot rice, why didn't he run to America to ask for help? now that the fry pan is hot he is running around like headless goat.
now he is seeking FBI protection. if indeed he has no faith in our security apparatus how can we trust him to rule or lead Nigeria? will he run to Iraq or Britain every time Niger Delta crisis start?


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/jan/17/national-17-01-2007-01.htm

What Happened to Liberia few years ago and what is currently going on in Somali will be tiny compare to what Nigeria and Nigerians will face.

There is only one looser in this whole dramma and that is Atiku Abubakar, will FBI or America impose him on Nigeria? no
At his age he is still hoping his yam to cook from the cover of his pot.
Come May 29 we will have new president and atiku will join the dustbin of history. Time will tell who is right.

FBI will tell us if Dick Cheney can decamp to Democrats and still hope to be VP.

McKren thanks you. I am baffled on why Atiku is so bent on securing that post at all cost. hasn't he done enough damage already. No matter what he says or does now, he will never be the next president of Nigeria. its about time he stop and think and let people stop deceiving him to pursue his ambition.

Guys, I'm not sure what we are after anymore.

Is this topic posted to devalue Atiku's mission?

or

Is it posted to criticize potential America involvement?

Well, regardless of the purpose of this topic; Pay attention folks, this is bigger than Atiku.
In-fact let's forget Atiku for a moment.
Do you really think we can handle this coming election by ourselves?
Can we count on this current administration to effectively monitor the coming election process?
How many will survive and how many will perish during this coming election?
How many have we lost so far and how many more to go before the election?

Enough is enough, it's not about  Atiku or anybody, it's about our lovely country and innocent citizens who will suffer before, during and after the election process.

Do you really think Atiku or his family will be affected in any way during this election process (even if he doesn't win the election)?

Wake up guys, America intervention is desperately needed before things get out of hand.

Don't be stupid; at the moment Nigeria is very brittle and we must take special precaution during this period to protect the future of our nation.

For once, please forget Atiku and the rest; let's focus on the indirect effect, or result that will be produced by an unguarded presidential election event in Nigeria.
 

May God bless Nigeria.

we dont need the kind of american salvation in Iraq. they are not welcomed.

@ McKren

My man, this is your topic; single line response or comment from you is not good enough.
You need to tackle this issue down like you own it.

I've posted several points regarding America involvement and Nigeria current political situation.

Could you please address these points and let the world know what is on your mind?

And by the way, don't mix things up; IRAQ is totally different from NIGERIA.

This is politics in Nigeria we are talking about, the Americans that can't provide jobs for their citizens are the one we asking to come monitor our election?

if the economy is go great in America why are all the companies out sourcing to India and other low paying regions? why is Ford and GM in such a dilemma right now

The issue in Nigeria up coming election is our problem and we should take full control of the process.

We have seen what Americans can do in Afghanistan and Iraq why do we need them?

tell me BIGB1 what will they come to Nigeria to do? haven't they done enough damage with the oil exploitations?

the ridicule and crudeness that the people from Niger Delta are subjected to with the oil refinery will not and can never happen in USA, the companies will be sanction and facing several law suits.

@MAMAJAMA
My man, no disrespect, your comment is irrelevant and out of content. You seem to be comparing apple, orange, banana, sugar, salt and water at the same time.

Hence, I will not respond, I don't need the head ache.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2007/jan/17/national-17-01-2007-01.htm

^
^

I'm laughing my ass off here. The FBI? LOL LOL LOL. An American DOMESTIC investigative outfit is going to protect a foreign national on foreign soil from the foreign nations own security outfits. My God, even our news editors lack basic intelligence. The daily sun isn't worth using to wipe my ass with.

@MARIORY (sweet heart)
It is very funny but:

This is what happens when you're dealing with leaders who find it very difficult to embrace professionalism and do what is right.

This is what happens when you're dealing with a leader who is vindictive and changes constitution as he wishes.

This is what happens in an unstable environment where security means nothing.

This is what happens when 2 leaders bring their dirty laundries out like 2 little kids.

I do not blame Atiku for this move; I would have done the same.

May be Bola Ige or Funsho Williams would be here with us today if they had done the same.

Your life is the only thing you have that is priceless and once is gone is gone.

Nothing is too much to protect someone's precious life.

@Big B1

Do you really think Atiku or his family will be affected in any way during this election process (even if he doesn't win the election)?

Wake up guys, America intervention is desperately needed before things get out of hand.

America is not UN, they are a sovreignty as much as we are. If Nigeria needs there help the government will invite them otherwise they are not needed. The election that saw the emergence of George Bush in his first tenure had questions of fraud so there is no perfect nation out there. The transition programme is still on course, INEC though not perfect is doing its job tell me what else Atiku is inviting US for other than he thinks he may not emerge winner.

BigB1 I am sorry to say that you rather need to wake up if you think Atiku is fighting anyone else's interest (or Nigeria for that matter) other than his selfish ambition. The America he is running to their vice president will not make mockery of the constitution like he is doing, no matter the situation. If there is any integrity left in Atiku he would have resigned long ago so as to mount a credible opposition. He would not do that and tells you he was voted by the people with OBJ thus he must finish his mandate.
But the point is that the Nigerian people did not vote him or OBJ because in Nigeria we don't vote individuals but political parties, thus if he has moved to another party why can't he resign even when our constitution does not allow him to be in another party as VP? what is he afraid of? where else in the world is the no.2 citizen the no.1 opposition of the government he is part of?  FIGHTING FOR NIGERIA MY FOOT THIS IS PURE DESPERATION WHICH HAS DONE NOTHING BUT TO BRING HIS OFFICE AND THIS NATION TO DISREPUTE.

Guys, I'm not sure what we are after anymore.

At this stage in our nation history what our priority should be is to have a transition from one civilian government to another and most importantly to have a generational change because the likes of IBB, Buhari, Atiku, Gusau have all been part of our problems and should give us a break.

Don't be stupid; at the moment Nigeria is very brittle and we must take special precaution during this period to protect the future of our nation.

Along which lines will the feud between OBJ and Atiku divide Nigeria. OBJ's greatest critics are the yorubas, the north has no time for Atiku while most of his allies are in the west. Except you are suggesting Nigeria will break along PDP and AC lines
You guys should stop raising unncessary alarm, it looks like the talk of third term is becoming outdated thus this new one?

And by the way, don't mix things up; IRAQ is totally different from NIGERIA.

I am not suggesting Nigeria and Iraq look alike. But if you are serious about your end note "may God Bless Nigeria" you will consider the activities of US and their interventions in other parts of the world before you invite them to Nigeria.


America's foreign policy is for their National Interest, they will be so glad to interfere in our affairs because of the oil we have. Go and do more research, Nouri Al-Maliki of Iraq and his legislature will soon sign a resolution permiting western oil companies of US and UK to syphon oil directly and profit from it to the tune of 70%.
If we are wise we should be asking what deal Atiku Abubakar have struck with the US so as to get their backing. Trust me we will soon hear the truth because Atiku is a desperate dog.

Atiku is Nigeria's biggest shame of the moment. No other Vice President of the world will put National Security at risk just for personal ambition.

I'm laughing my ass off here. The FBI? LOL LOL LOL. An American DOMESTIC investigative outfit is going to protect a foreign national on foreign soil from the foreign nations own security outfits. My God, even our news editors lack basic intelligence. The daily sun isn't worth using to wipe my ass with.

Mariory you are absolutely correct. The Sun is useless.

Big B1:

@MARIORY (sweet heart)

I do not blame Atiku for this move; I would have done the same.

I'm not gay so don't address me as your sweet heart. You don't get it. The FBI is Domestic. It's jurisdiction is American Soil. Atiku's camp is full of idiots if stories like these are how they plan to get him of the hook.

@MARIORY (BLACKNESS) (no need to be defensive, we both know who you are)

At this point, what would you advise Atiku to do?

Before you answer this question, please do some research and study Mr President's vindictive and evil ways.

yeye people plenty for nigeria. atiku na one of the yeye people. na america dey follow make laws for nigeria?
yeye rolling

What I suggest Atiku to do and should have done long before now was to resign his post as VP and pursue his ambition

as a presidential aspirant. Now he is a total Joke and a disgrass to the office he hold. where in the world have you

ever hear of a VP in a democratic government joining another party and still enjoy the privilege of his office?

regardless of how vindictive Mr president might be. We all know OBJ is Evil but Atiku's action is inexcusable. he is a

coward and should be jail at all cost. there is an Yoruba adage you never bite the hands that feed you. now Atiku not

only making mockery of OBJ but the whole senate and the party that elected him.

@ McKren:

You've omitted few lines in your response. Read the bottom comment and respond; it's your topic and your detailed insight will be appreciated.

Quote By Big B1

In-fact let's forget Atiku for a moment.
Do you really think we can handle this coming election by ourselves?
Can we count on this current administration to effectively monitor the coming election process?
How many will survive and how many will perish during this coming election?
How many have we lost so far and how many more to go before the election?

Enough is enough, it's not about  Atiku or anybody, it's about our lovely country and innocent citizens who will suffer before, during and after the election process.

The problem here is the fact that you guys are so blindfolded and determined to devalue Atiku's mission. Believe me, we need to look past Atiku and start thinking about the future of the people and the nation.

This is how Liberian horrible saga began few years ago, the same exact way. People forgot what is important. Believe me, it's not about anybody, but the security of the citizens and the future of the nation.

In general, we are currently lacking effectiveness, efficiency and unitedness within the country; and you guys truly believe that the coming presidential election will be successful? I don't think so.

Let's face the fact, at the moment an unguarded presidential election event in Nigeria will be a major catastrophe.
 
We need a neutral body to assist us before its too late; and trust me, UN is not capable.

This election will be successful at all cost, its people like you BigB1 that have trust in foreign nation like USA that is causing problem all over the world.

why must USA be a big brother all the time? you can take a cow to the water but you can not force him to drink, the issue in Nigeria is local and it's only Nigerians that knows how to conduct our election and can be successful in doing so.

are you aware of what happened in Ohio during the presidential election? how did Bush get into office in 2000.

No election is 100% error free but we can do it ourself, we don't need distraction and all the noise Atiku is making.

Why is he Atiku so scared of resigning and save his face? is he scared of EFCC and prosecution ? The evil that men do

will trail them long after they are gone. ATIKU will see what RIBADU will do to him in due time.

BigB1 this is the last time I will say the same thing over again. We dont need no body to conduct elections for us. We dont conduct their's why will they conduct ours.

@McKren:

Dude, do yourself a favor, do not respond anymore.

It is obvious that you've started something you can't finish.

It is important to always have solid premiss to support your topic, but you don't.

No need to repeat yourself anymore, you're making me sick.

Note: Always think broadly not narrowly.

I too am worried about the way things are going.
America don't have the right whatsover to interefere in our internal affairs.
They must be laughing their ass out when Atiku was making his requests.


And as for Obj, why did he send Kayode to the US last time?
To explain why our government take certain decison?

Men, we have to stop this America worship.
They themselves are not out of the woods.
Simple Iraq, they can not win in a war.
And you want them to come over here to solve our problems?

I like Mugabe as much as I hate him.
If he was tackling the problems of his people, I would have called him a hero.
If he wasn't dictatorial, he would have been a saint.
Take away his military tendencies and I will adore him.

We need a president and a vice who will respect our sovereignty.
Not hero worshippers.
-the likes of Obj and Atiku

@Azorjiu:

I see your point, but now that these folks have successfully divided the country by their childish action, what would be a perfect strategy to protest the citizens and the future of our nation during this election process?

devided which country?
along which lines is Nigeria devided?
is it between PDP and AC?

BigB1 please get serious

Someone else have just said what I have been saying?
Obj's greatest mistake is sending Kayode to US. He should ignore them

Nigeria benefits nothing from America, if they dont buy oil anymore we simply sell it to china and India

OBJ should ignore Atiku and the US. simple

@MAMAJAMA

Quote By MAMAJAMA

you can take a cow to the water but you can not force him to drink

Actually, you can force cow to drink water, but you can't force horse.

Stay focused, my man. Its time to look past these folks and think about the innocent people and the future of our lovely nation.

Trust me, Nigerians are too smart to allow to be stepped on by America.

It's not about pride or ego.

It is obvious that current administration has no credibility in regards to anything. Hence we can not count on them; they've failed many times and they continue to prove everyone right.

Our main focus should be on a peaceful power transmission, which, at this current time in Nigeria, can never never be successfully achieved alone.

Have you heard the latest news "Election might be postponed to August"?

What kind of rubbish is that?

A sign of failure?

A sign of potential major catastrophe in the country?

A sign of third term?

Believe me, the mess will get worst; this is just the beginning.

Go and ask a Liberian.