 The
All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Jonathan Administration
of seeking to negotiate the timing of the release of the Chibok girls
to create a maximum public relations boost for itself, rather than out
of a genuine concern for the girls who are now in their sixth month in
captivity. In a statement issued in London on Sunday by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the
clearest evidence of the government's manipulation of the girls' release
came during President Goodluck Jonathan's recent visit to New York to
attend the UN General Assembly.
''Apparently assured, somehow, that
the girls were about to be released, the Administration had set up an
elaborate publicity event in New York, rented the necessary crowd and
booked back-to-back interviews with the international media to enable
the President to luxuriate in the girls' release. This event was billed
for the five-star Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, close to the UN
Headquarters.
''Nigerians will remember that on 23 Sept., the
military announced, on Twitter, the imminent release of the girls, only
to retract the statement shortly thereafter. In the intervening period,
thousands of 'supporters' of the President had gathered at the Pierre
Hotel to welcome the President after the release of the girls, while
media interviews had been booked for him...
''Such an occasion
required prior organisation, and therefore prior knowledge by both the
government and attendees of the timing of any release of the girls. This
whole episode was timed to also coincide with President Jonathan’s
speech to the UN General Assembly on the following day - Sept. 24th -
and to secure maximum advantage for the government. Somehow, the whole
process collapsed like a pack of cards, to the chagrin of those seeking
to exploit the innocent girls for political advantage,'' it said.
APC
condemned the shameless politicization of the plight of the Chibok
girls, saying since the incompetence of the Jonathan Administration led
to the abduction of the girls in the first instance, it must not seek to
make political capital out of their release.
''What should be
paramount is securing the release of the girls as soon as possible, not
securing their release to fit with a schedule that benefits Goodluck
Jonathan politically. For the girls, their parents and indeed all good
people of Nigeria, this abduction saga has been a nightmare. It is time
for it to end,'' the party said.
It said the same Jonathan
Administration that rebuffed appeals from well-meaning Nigerians to
negotiate the release of the girls in their early days in captivity has
suddenly swung into feverish action, sending its cronies to negotiate
with the abductors and even expressing the readiness to swap the Boko
Haram commanders for the girls.
''We believe the government
should do whatever it takes to secure the safe release of the girls. We
believe nothing is too much to do to get the girls back home safely and
bring the much-needed relief to their parents and families. But we
suspect the government's sudden efforts, which is undoubtedly aimed at
giving a boost to President Jonathan's candidacy for next year's
presidential election.
''This is most unconscionable, most
exploitative and blatantly shameless. It confirms what we have been
saying all along that the Jonathan Administration knows more about the
Boko Haram insurgency than it has admitted, and that the Administration
is exploiting the insurgency for the President's re-election. Decent
Nigerians are undoubtedly scandalized at this exploitative and deceitful
behaviour of their government, and it must stop forthwith,'' APC said.
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