The #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to visit the parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and the Chibok community to emotionally recharge their hope and confidence in his avowed commitment in rescuing the girls.
In a review of the outcome of their visit to the president signed by its leaders, Oby Ezekwesili, Aisha Yesufu and Hadiza Bala Usman, the group stated that the president failed to connect with the grieving parents which it described as a lost opportunity.
The group however stated that it believed that the president still has the necessary goodwill arising from his well-acknowledged commitment to rescuing the girls as repeatedly stated starting from his inaugural speech of 29th May 2015.
“As a movement we wish to unequivocally state that the meeting was markedly different from the last one of 8 July 2015 in many ways. At the last meeting, the manner in which the president took ownership of the tragedy even though inherited, the strong pledge that he made to the parents, community, and our movement to exhaust every option for our Chibok girls’ rescue, the obvious manner which his tone and message connected with the grieving parents, and his sense of urgency to bring positive closure resonated with our group.
“This second meeting however was different, and the real victims are the 108 parents who set out seeking a boost to their failing hope after a year and nine months of agonising for their 219 missing daughters.
“At the last engagement of 8th July 2015, the president impressed everyone by the apt attention he paid to each speaker, diligently took notes and meticulously responded to each subject that was raised. He had also commended our movement for holding government accountability, for our steadfastness in standing on the grounds of shared humanity to advocate for the Chibok girls, other victims of the insurgency, and the Northeast in general. Not so this time,” it said.
The group however stated that the outcome of its second meeting with Mr President has offered them the opportunity to reassess various ways that its advocacy can ensure that tangible results are generated by the federal government in the speedy rescue and safe return of the abducted girls.
“We also got the National Security Advicer (NSA)’s commitment to leading the institutionalising of a structured feedback mechanism that would keep the parents, community, and our movement updated on progress being made with the federal government rescue operation.
“We have also understood that a proposal related to the rescue of our Chibok girls already approved by Mr President will be unveiled shortly. We were subsequently informed that a new investigation would be launched by the federal government into the abduction of our Chibok girls.
“The NSA pledged to work more closely with the parents, community.”
The group also express its commitment the the pledge it made to the parents of the Chibok girls when it first marched to draw attention to their daughters’ abduction on 30th April 2014, that it will remain non-retreating in its advocacy for their rescue.
