The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled his planned trip to the United States of America over fear of arrest on human rights charges.
The former military head of state was scheduled to attend a programme organised by the United States-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, on Monday, January 26, 2015 but cancelled at last minute over fears that his past may catch up with him.
Buhari has human rights charges hunting him over post election violence which claimed lives of many, including NYSC members, after the 2011 general elections where he contested and failed. There have been legal proceedings against the retired army general for him to face trial in international criminal courts over his role in inciting violence following his lose at the polls against President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.
As a result of General Buhari’s cancelled trip, the event, which was centered on the future of Nigeria as pivotal national election approaches, has been canceled.
The organisation also invited the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan as speaker.
She explained that the cancellation of the trip was because of a change in Mr. Buhari’s schedule.
Both frontrunners in the February 14 elections were to speak on Nigeria’s future and enable them share their perspectives on the elections.
In an earlier inquiry, the organisation had said the APC presidential candidate was invited to its Washington headquarters “to give a major public address on Nigeria’s future as it stands on the edge of a pivotal national election.”
The CSIS Director of African Programme, Jennifer Cooke, confirming the cancellation of the event said it was due to “a change in his (Buhari) schedule.”
She said: “First, I want to make you aware that, because of a change in his schedule, Gen Buhari will not be travelling to the United States, and the event on Monday has been cancelled.
“The CSIS Africa Program issued almost identical invitations to both leading political candidates (President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari) to share their perspectives on Nigeria’s forthcoming elections and Nigeria’s future more broadly.”
“There is considerable interest among U.S. policymakers and the Nigerian Diaspora community in the February 14 elections, and an interest in hearing from both candidates first hand their thoughts on how best to ensure that the elections will be free, fair, credible, and peaceful.
“The Africa Program has no position on which candidate should or will be successful.”
General Buhari is participating in the Nigerian presidential elections for the fourth time after losing three times in 2003 to President Obasanjo, 2007 to President Yar’Adua, and 2011 to President Jonathan.
