Parents of the chibok girls told pmb to resign

Parents protesting the failure of the Federal Government to
rescue over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect
in Chibok in 2014 have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to
immediately rescue  the girls from captivity or resign.
The parents, who joined the #BringBackOurGirls coalition on
Thursday for another protest march to the Presidential Villa,
were again stopped by armed policemen.
A representative of the parents, Rev. Enoch Mark, accused the
Federal Government of not doing enough to rescue the girls,
saying the government should negotiate for their release.
Mark, whose two daughters were among the 219 schoolgirls
abducted by Boko Haram, said he suffered a stroke while
worrying about his daughters.
He insisted that Buhari must negotiate with Boko Haram for
the release of the schoolgirls.
He said, “We cast our votes for Buhari because he promised to
rescue our girls. Now, the parents are asking you, Mr.
President, to meet the insurgents and make a decision.
“Either use the military force or go for negotiation; some
countries are ready to give you a helping hand. What are you
waiting for? Are you not interested in bringing back our girls?
“We have intelligence agencies in Nigeria; there is nothing in
this country that they don’t know. Why didn’t you give them
orders to bring back our girls?
“Are you not a General? You know what is happening and you
know where our daughters are. Buhari, if you feel that you are
incapable of rescuing the girls, step down now and give it
(power) to someone else. We have many intelligent persons in
the country who can handle this situation. You cannot tell us
that you don’t know where the girls are.”
Mark, who uses a walking stick, accused the Federal
Government of not communicating with the parents of the
abducted girls.
He cited the Malaysian government’s handling of the
Malaysian MH370 air crash, noting that the government
regularly communicated with the families of the crash victims
during the incident.
“For two months now, I have not been able to sleep; I had
stroke while thinking of my two daughters. General Buhari, had
your daughters been among these girls, how will you feel? How
will you feel with your daughter in enemies’ hands? You are
responsible for the rescue of these girls. You are responsible
for my daughters’ safety.
“When the Malaysian plane crashed, the Malaysian
government was in touch with the families of the victims, but
you are not talking to Chibok girls’ parents,” he added.
The aggrieved father said Buhari did not empathise with the
Chibok parents when they visited him at the Presidential Villa in
January.
“You intimidated us; you said you were frustrated, you were
not happy with us. Are we not Nigerians? If Buhari feels he
does not know (the girls’ location), let him step down and
hand over to someone else,” Mark added.
The Co-convener, BBOG , Oby Ezekwesili, who read a
statement on behalf of the group, said the members would
march to the Presidential Villa again in 72 hours if there was
no positive response from the Federal Government.
The group noted the attack on Shawa Village in the Askira Uba
Local Government Area of Borno State and acknowledged the
courage and gallantry of the soldiers in the frontlines,
including the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Civilian
JTF, and urged them to remain resilient in the face of attacks.
The BBOG called for an investigation into the handling of
salaries and emoluments of troops, saying complaints about
their poor feeding and allowances were unacceptable.
It challenged the government to demonstrate the political will
to rescue the girls by taking a definite action on the issue.
It said, “Reports from a former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon,
after a meeting with Mr. President suggest that the Federal
Government’s position remains a lack of credible intelligence.
“Coming over seven months since our engagement with Mr.
President on January 14, and considering the lack of feedback
on rescue efforts, this strengthens the position that there has
been no focused, coherent and consistent operation to rescue
our girls.
“Having submitted four cogent reasons why it could not be
said that there is a lack of credible intelligence during our
meeting in January, and three further reasons just three days
ago, the discussion must shift from credible intelligence to
political will to decide on a line of action.”
The BBOG said the claim by the military that it had fatally
injured Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, made it the
fourth time that the security forces had announced that they
had killed the terrorist.
Also, the Chibok community, in a statement by its spokesman,
Dr Manasseh Allen, reiterated its calls for negotiation with
Boko Haram for the release of the girls.
It said the escape of one of the girls, Amina Ali, in May 2016
had bridged the gap of absence of intelligence and called on
the government and its agencies to live up to their duties.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom pledged to do whatever it
could to assist in finding the girls.
The UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, said this
when the BBOG members met with him in Abuja.
He said, “UK stands in solidarity with the Chibok people; the
girls are global citizens; so, we will do whatever we can to
partner the Nigerian government to help find the girls.”
Attempts to speak with the Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, proved abortive as his phone
rang out.
He had yet to reply to a text message sent to his mobile
phone as of press time.
‘Buhari has not given up on Chibok girls’
The Presidency on Thursday said the Federal Government has
not given up on the Chibok girls.
It said Buhari’s heart was with the girls and their parents.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in an interview with one of our
correspondents.
He said efforts to find the abducted girls would continue.
The presidential spokesman said, “The President’s heart is
with the Chibok girls and their parents. He understands their
feelings.
“The government has not given up on the missing girls. Efforts
to find them will continue.
“So far, the country’s gallant and re-energised military has
taken back more than 20,000 citizens held hostage by the
terrorists.
“In the last couple of days, the Nigerian Air Force carried out a
successful raid in which 300 terrorists were killed. The leader
of the terrorists, Shekau, was injured.
“Boko Haram, which killed above 20,000 citizens is on the
retreat. Government’s efforts to end terrorism and brigandage
all over the country will continue.”