by Kolapo Olapoju
It is electioneering season, and consequently, promises are made by politicians to rake in more votes.
During the presidential chat aired live on television on Wednesday, February 11, President Goodluck Jonathan, assured Nigerians that the Chibok girls will be brought back home alive.
Although many believe that some of the girls have been conscripted by the terrorist sect, the president says he’s optimistic that they will be rescued. He, however, failed to give a specific time range.
The media chat anchored by former NTA presenter, Adesuwa Onyenokwe had Premium Times editor, Ibanga Isine; Blueprint Newspaper editor, Ibrahim Shema and broadcast journalist, Deji Badmus on the panel.
Jonathan said: “Well, I cannot give you a specific time range, so that you will not say the President said so. I cannot say in two weeks time, but give us some time. We are working with our neighbours and we are combing the whole area, just give us some time.”
“The case with the Chibok girls is very unfortunate. That is the difference between the current challenges and crisis we face in Nigeria and that of other countries when they had issues of terror.”
“Many nations have experienced terror, even the US has. We know that France experienced terror not too long ago. Other countries, when they have this issue of terror, political boundaries collapse and people work together. But in this case, it is different, we politicize everything. Is that the way we will bring back these girls?”
When asked if the girls will be rescued alive, Jonathan was affirmative in his response, saying that as a result of the ongoing multi-national operation, he is confident they will be brought back.
He said: “Of course we will recover them alive. We are hopeful, about 200 girls were kidnapped. Because of the condition now, as the president, I am more hopeful than before, because of what we have now and the maximum cooperation of our troops.”
“You need to even appreciate the fact that as president, I can still relate and interact with people despite what is happening. Some people do not know the problems I carry because of the Boko Haram menace.”
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