The United States’ Consulate in Lagos, yesterday declared that the issue of Unites States of America’s visa for anyone, irrespective of social standing in the society, was strictly a confidential matter, which the US Government will not discuss in public. Making the disclosure in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, was the Public Affairs Officer (PAO), US Consulate, Lagos, Brussel Brooks. The revelation was made against the backdrop of allegation by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with regard to the U.S. visa status of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections. Brooks, who did not mention any name, however said this in an interview with journalists on Atiku’s US visa status, at the end of an education forum organised for 150 teachers and students drawn from various public schools in Oyo State. With representatives of Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in attendance, the programme, entitled:
‘Teaching Resources: Availability, Applicability and Appropriateness,’ held at the Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan, organised by Fulbright Language Scholars’ Association under the leadership of Miss Tolu Akinwole. Speaking, Brooks inferred from the question from the case of Atiku’s US visa status that:
“The position of the U.S. Mission has remained the same throughout any discussion of this issue, that visas are a confidential matter. “We don’t discuss individual visa’s status of any person, whether it be a highly rated official, a presidential candidate or an average citizen. Anyone who applies for a visa should know that there will be some records that are confidential. “It is classified as private document by the United States Government, and we never discuss them in public,” he said.
Brooks enjoined candidates of all political parties at all levels, especially presidential, governorship and National Assembly, to focus on issue-based campaigns and avoid distractions, while also advising Nigerians to ask candidates at all levels regarding the plan they have to improve education. “Often times unfortunately, campaigns are full of distractions and hings that are not that important to the lives and welfare of average Nigerians, especially the children that are with us today. What is important for them is to give them the opportunities to serve in order to thrive in today’s world. “This means they need a good education.
The school should be improved. When I heard of the letter from the students describing their lack of books and dearth of desks in their school, I felt it is very disheartening. There are things that should be corrected. “I will also encourage parents and voters to ask the candidates what they plan to do to improve education.
