The girls,
students in Chibok, Borno state, were abducted by the Boko Haram terrorist
group in 2014.
The faction
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Ali Modu Sheriff has revealed
why it was very difficult for immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan to get
the Chibok girls released.
The Sheriff’s
faction of the PDP said Jonathan’s administration was on the verge of getting
the girls released in May 2014 before this move was scuttled by an unnamed Borno
state indigene. The acting deputy national chairman of the party, Dr Cairo
Ojougboh, who spoke in Abuja, said former President Goodluck Jonathan had
raised a negotiation committee to liaise with representatives of the insurgent
group.
According to
him, progress was being made until it was scuttled. “When in May 2014 we were
to receive these girls, we had already committed every resource available,
logistics were made but when we got to the negotiating point, the International
Red Cross, myself and lady doctor from the SSS, we were disappointed.
“Why were we
disappointed? We were disappointed because somebody from within Borno state got
wind about the development about the release and scuttled it,” he said.
“In this country today, there is cause for happiness and jubilation
over the release of the 82 Chibok girls. “The PDP welcomes it, the PDP
congratulates the president, the armed forces, the embassy and people of
Switzerland, especially the International Red Cross, all partners who have
worked assiduously for the release of the Chibok girls.
“The
attention of the party has been drawn to a statement made by the rebel group
criticizing aspects of the release of Chibok girls. Let us make it clear that
the effort and the battle to release the Chibok girls started a long time ago.
“In effect, sometime in May 2014, a consultant of the World Bank visited
Nigeria and approached Chief EK Clark and told him that the Chibok girls were
alive and they could be rescued.
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