A former minister of education and coordinator of the #BringBackOurGirls coalition, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has blamed the political class for the continued incarceration of the Chibok girls.Welcoming the reported escape of one of the over 200 Chibok girls from the Boko Haram custody, the ex-vice president of the World Bank, stated that her return has further renewed her hopes in the schoolgirls’ plight.One of the kidnapped schoolgirls identified simply as Susan was said to have been found wandering on the outskirts of Hong in Adamawa State.
The 20-year-old, said to be traumatised, is receiving treatment and rehabilitation at an undisclosed medical facility in Adamawa State.Writing on Twitter on Thursday, Ezekwesili described Susan’s escape as “incredible and miraculous,” adding that the “nauseating” politics being played by the political class had cost the Chibok girls an early rescue from their abductors.
“One of our Chibok girls was miraculously found in a bush by locals. Some Chibok parents are now with her in Yola, Adamawa State. It is hard to comprehend the return of Susan who is still incoherent. The eternal optimist that I am makes me see the return of Susan as a good sign for the rest of our 219 Chibok daughters.
“It is precisely political calculations of all sorts that cost them early rescue. On day 163, should politics still be the issue? Saddens one each time I do interviews nothing but determination to make our girls and their rescue the subject guides me.
“They (Chibok girls) don’t care about politics! Whether it is the Federal Government or the opposition party, it is distasteful for our Chibok girls to be caught in political crossfire. They just want to be rescued,” Ezekwesili said.
She urged the military authorities to approach the escape of Susan from captivity with all sense of professionalism with a view to getting clues on the whereabouts of the other missing schoolgirls.
According to her, the tragic turn with which the lives of the Chibok girls have taken was unfortunate, and the Federal Government must intensify its efforts in prioritising the girls rescue.
Describing Susan’s escape as a “bitter-sweet moment” for the Chibok parents and the #BringBackOurGirls coalition, Ezekwesili promised to “steadfastly” advocate for the safe return of the remaining schoolgirls.
“Heartbroken at what one of our daughters (Susan) became. What a life! What a tragic turn the lives of 219 young women took. All we feared would happen to our daughters in the midst of evil men is manifest in the one (Susan) who is miraculously out.
“Just think how eternally tragic it would be to have 219 battered lives. The Federal Government should please do something. I remind the Federal Government that we owe our 218 daughters the duty of rescue now!
“How can we not see that in saving our daughters, we save our future? Let us do it now! We say no to more days in the den of evil. One hopes that our security services especially the military would approach Susan’s return in a way that helps us learn more in the next couple of days,” she added.
Online commentator, Adebayo Odofin, backed Ezekwesili’s arguments that the Federal Government should double it efforts in securing the release of the Chibok girls.
“Can we then talk about life without the Chibok girls? It’s a hard one to think. The government must just make that extra effort to bring back our girls,” Odofin wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has renewed its commitment to the safe return of the schoolgirls. The Executive Director, UN Women – the global organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women — Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, stated on Thursday that she would continue to be at the forefront of championing of girl child education.
“I share strong belief in importance of girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment. The Nigerian girls deserve and should have our attention,” Mlambo-Ngcuka, an Under-Secretary-General, wrote on Twitter.
Also, a former first lady of Kwara State, and Founder of the Wellbeing Foundation, Toyin Saraki, said there was no need to deprive the girl-child the basic human rights to education, healthcare and proper nutrition.
“If we do nothing, by the end of the decade an estimated 142 million girls will be married as children. Actions are needed to influence family and community norms related to delayed marriage and the retention of girls in our schools.
“Gender needs and perspectives should be taken into account when developing policies, as women and children are more likely to suffer from their effects! Education is the best way to get out of poverty. I believe in empowering girls by offering them opportunities to gain skills and education,” Saraki tweeted.
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