An aide to presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party in the 2023 general election , Atiku Abubakar, Daniel Bwala, has slammed the Federal Government over Nigeria’s deals with India and the United Arab Emirates, saying there was nothing landmark about the deals.
Bwala disclosed this on Tuesday on his X formerly Twitter account, saying the flight ban was occasioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s non payment of funds belonging to emirate, adding that Tinubu promised to pay back.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement, said the president has secured landmark deals with the UAE while the visa ban on Nigerians has also been lifted.
Bwala wrote, “I am an optimist, but there is nothing landmark about the lift of the ban on visa and travel restrictions,” he wrote.
The Atiku’s aidethe said the UAE may be waiting for Nigeria to rectify issues regarding its Emirates Airlines first before it can announce the lifting of the ban.
Bwala, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party submitted that Tinubu entered deals with conditions to be met before the UAE can actually lift the visa ban placed on Nigerians.
“Firstly, the flight ban was occasioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (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,” he said
“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.”
He further said that what the country needs is strengthening of the mutual legal assistance agreement for repatriation of stolen funds belonging to the government of Nigeria in the UAE.
Bwala said that the lifting of the ban as announced by Tinubu’s spokesman, Ngelale, does not corroborate any statement issued by the UAE government regarding the president’s visit or any landmark deal.
“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,” Bwala said.
“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.”
Bwala then urged the FG to come back to NIgeria and address the problems confronting the country – multi-dimensional poverty, corruption, healthcare, education, insecurity, state sponsored threats, and others.
