Jonathan didn’t make promise on Chibok girls’ return -Presidency

Jonathan didn’t make promise on Chibok girls’ return -Presidency

The Presidency said on Monday that President Goodluck Jonathan did not make
any commitment on when the girls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in
Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, would be rescued.
It, therefore, said it would be wrong to assume that the girls would be rescued in
less than six weeks.
Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, stated this
in a statement in Abuja.
Okupe was reacting to the comment by a former Minister of Education and a
leader of the Bring Back our Girls Group, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, to the effect that
President Jonathan has made an affirmative statement that the girls would be
returned in about six weeks.
Okupe said this was not correct, adding that what the President said 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 had made
the chances for the rescue of the Chibok girls brighter than ever before.
The presidential aide 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 made 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 would even happen in a day.”
He said it was therefore insincere and mischievous on the part of Ezekwesili and
her organisation to launch a countdown which he said was meant to score cheap
political points rather than encourage the military and help the cause of the girls
and their depressed parents.
He, nevertheless, said President Jonathan was committed to the safe return of
the girls, who were abducted 309 days ago.