Presidency to Ezekwesili: Fighting terrorism, insurgency not football match

ABUJA — THE Presidency, yesterday, described as
insincere and mischievous, the launch by
BringBack Our Girls group of a countdown for the
Chibok girls to regain freedom, saying fighting
terrorism and insurgency is not a football match
where commentaries were run for the delight of
spectators.
In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, it
said President Goodluck Jonathan in his media
chat never promised that the girls would be freed
within six weeks, noting that the count-down by
the former minister and her group was
unnecessary.
Okupe said: “Our attention has been drawn to a
statement credited to former Minister of Education
and a leader of the Bring Back our Girls Group, Dr
Oby Ezekwesili, to the effect that President
Goodluck Jonathan has made an affirmative
statement that the girls abducted by Boko Haram
terrorists in Government Secondary School,
Chibok, Borno State would be freed within six
weeks, hence the beginning of a count-down by
the organisation.
“We wish to state that the statement by the
President during his last media chat was that the
combined efforts of new offensive by the Nigerian
military and its allies as well as improved capacity
in the operations have made the chances for the
rescue of the Chibok girls brighter than ever
before.
“This statement cannot be construed as putting a
six-week time-frame for the delicate task of freeing
the girls alive which the President remains very
committed to and would definitely wish that would
even happen in a day.
It’s insincere, mischievous
“It is, therefore, insincere and mischievous on the
part of Dr Ezekwesili and her organization to
launch a countdown which from all intent and
purpose is meant to score cheap political points
rather than encourage the military and help the
cause of the girls and their depressed parents.
“President Jonathan’s commitment to the rescue
and safe return of the Chibok girls is unwavering.
The Nigerian military and its allies have as part of
their mandate, the rescue of the girls and all others
who are in custody of the Boko Haram terrorists as
well as securing the safety of Nigerians living in
areas ravaged by insurgency.
“No responsible organization would seek to make
a gain of this unfortunate incident and constantly
twist facts and pronouncements in order to appear
as if government is incapable of meeting its
timelines.
“Fighting terrorism and insurgency is not a football
match where commentaries are run for the delight
of spectators. It is a much more serious exercise
and we expect Dr Ezekwesili to understand this in
view of her global exposure and stop being a pawn
in the chess board of some desperate political
actors.”