US Visa Ban List: Governor Wike Tables Fresh Before US, UK

The governor of Rivers State, south-south Nigeria, Nyesom Wike, has urged the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) to publish the names of citizens indicted till date on the US visa ban list.

Governor Wike made this call in reaction to the visa ban slammed on some Nigerians involved in election rigging and violence by the ban the United States government.

Naija News had reported earlier the United States Government slammed visa ban on Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party.

This online news platform understands that apart from Oshiomhole, Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, are also among those affected by the latest US sanction, a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson for the Department of State, Morgan Ortagus, said.

On the other hand, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state, northern Nigeria, had his own visa ban extended. El-Rufai has been banned from entering the US since 2010 over a graft case.

According to US officials, more Nigerian politicians may be included on the US Visa Ban List after the Edo governorship election slated for September 19 if they are involved in electoral malpractice. It was gathered that those affected by the latest visa ban have received notification by email and or text messages.

Like the US, the United Kingdom warned that names identified with the sponsorship of violence in Edo and Ondo States during the governorship elections this year, will be added to the existing blacklist.

Reacting to the US visa ban list in a statement by Paulinus Nsirim, the Commissioner for Information on Thursday, Governor Wike commended the countries for their actions.

“They should go ahead and publish their names so that a lot of things will change in our electoral process.

“Election rigging is worse than armed robbery. So whatever sanctions that can be imposed will be highly welcomed by the PDP,” he said.