Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) is not optimistic about the return, or rescue of over 200 kidnapped Chibok girls, and he did not mince words when he stated it at the event “7th Roundtable with Obj”, held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. “72 hours after the Chibok girls were adopted was too late for their rescue, not talk less getting to two years by April,” he said, but not without adding that the any leader who promises their return is a liar.

In reaction to OBJ’s statement, the people of the Chibok community, represented by some of the leaders, rejected the elder statesman’s opinion, calling it just that, “an opinion.”  “Obasanjo is a respected former president and retired military officer who may have his reasons for making such statement but, to us, he is entitled to his opinion, because we still believe the girls are alive and can be rescued,” said the leaders.

It has been almost two years since the girls were kidnapped in April 2014, while some Nigerians, like the people of Chibok are still counting days, optimistic for their return; quite a number of folks appear disinterested in the countdown, and the once global viral hashtag #Bringbackourgirls.

Following  inconsistencies in many of President Buhari’s statements in regards to the missing girls, OBJ might be right in concluding that the girls will never be found. During his campaign, Muhammadu Buhari promised to give his all to ensure that the girls were rescued and reunited with their families. “…I will give it all it takes to ensure that our girls kidnapped from Chibok are rescued and reintegrated with their families,” he said.

Although it is hard to ascertain whether or not the president is indeed giving his all in the search for the girls, one thing is definite, they are yet to be found, and worse still, the man who was once certain about finding them, is presently not confident about their return. Once elected President, Buhari, stated, “We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to I cannot promise that we can find them …” This was during an event commemorating a year since the kidnap of the girls in April 2015.

But the president’s stance has not changed much since then as he didn’t appear optimistic about the rescue mission when asked the whereabouts of the girls two months ago during his first presidential media chat. Buhari said the government has to ensure that all 209 kidnapped girls can be located, and that contact has to be made with the right leadership of Boko Haram before any form of negotiation for their release. However, this is near impossible as the government has discovered that the girls “have been dispersed over the place …” He also could not confirm whether or not the girls are alive, “there is no such intelligence report of where those girls are physically, and in what condition they are in …” he said.

More so, the fact that the terrorist sect, Boko Haram is still at large, and that their latest strategy of attack for a while now is the use of female suicide bombers, has led Nigerians to question whether or not the kidnapped girls now serve as munition for the terrorists. If this is the case, then it might do Nigerians well to heed to the advise of the elder statesman, and stop living in denial.

Elsewhere on Ventures

Triangle arrow