President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday maintained that that the handling of the Chibok girls issue by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was not impressive.
The President who spoke when he received the #Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, declared that it was a matter of right for the government to take care of the welfare of the escaped girls and parents of the over 200 secondary school girls abducted from Chibok, Borno State on April 14 last year.
“Nobody in Nigeria or outside could have missed your consistency and persistence, demonstration of the injustice meted on you, the parents, the community and Nigeria.
“Representing the government of Nigeria, I cannot rationalize the government’s incompetence in dealing with this issue. We only ask for your patience.
“I’m impressed with the presentation of BBOG by Mrs. Uwais, which is comprehensive enough and the leadership of the Chibok community has made a comprehensive representation as well as leader of this group, the cleric that represents the group.”
“It’s unfortunate that the security and federal government conflicting reports initially presented the government and it’s agencies in a very bad light both nationally and internationally because the law enforcement agencies and the government were conflicting each other sometimes within hours or within weeks, that is not very impressive.
“The delayed and late reaction by former government and its agencies was very unfortunate as I said. And I thank the leader of Chibok Community for the articulated priorities he has drawn about welfare of the families, of the communities and rehabilitation of infrastructure. I think government should provide these infrastructures as a matter of right.
“I think you will agree that the present government takes the issue very seriously. Within a week of being sworn in, I visited Niger, Chad and would have visited Cameroon but for the invitation of the G-7 to go to Germany and listen to them.”
Buhari promised to do all it takes to rescue the Chibok girls.
The President also wondered how the capacity of Nigerian armed forces had lowered over the years.
Promising to strengthen institutions, he said, that everything will be done to bring the armed forces back to its lost glory.
The #Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group visited the Presidential Villa to make formal demands for the girls’ rescue, among others.
The group was led by the Coordinators, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and Mariam Uwais.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo along with the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and some service chiefs were also among top government officials that received the group in the briefing room attached to the Council Chamber.
Previous attempts by the group to access the seat of power and have audience with former President Jonathan were thwarted by the last administration.
The demands made by Ezekwesili and Chibok Area Development Association, represented by Dauda Iliya, Wednesday, included increasing effort by the government to immediately rescue the abducted girls, for the Federal Government to start taking care of the welfare of parents of the abducted and escaped girls.
They also demanded for the general welfare of the entire Chibok community, including relief materials for all the displaced persons to be taken care of by the Federal Government.
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