The Special Adviser to the President on
Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, says only God can say when
abducted Dapchi girl, Leah Sharibu, will be released by Boko Haram.....
Adesina said this on Tuesday during a live programme on Channels Television.
He said, “For how much longer? I think
that question can only be answered by God but I believe God is
interested in that young girl and will ensure that she is preserved and
at least by the time that clip is verified, one will be sure that it is
her actually and once that is determined, we should all be glad that she
is alive. When will she return? By the grace of God, the government is
working on it and we believe she will be back.”
The President’s spokesman said Buhari saw nothing wrong in paying terrorists ransom.
He said if need be, he would pay ransom to secure the release of persons in captivity.
Adesina, however, faulted a report by
the United Nations that some money was paid for the release of some
Dapchi girls, insisting that the organization got its facts wrong.
He added, “One thing we should always
remember as Nigerians is that early in the life of the administration,
the President had said on the Chibok girls before the Dapchi incident
happened that whatever it took to rescue them, he would do, including
paying. He is on record to have said that.
“It baffles me each time that
controversy comes up. I remember the President said in 2015 that we
would get these girls back even if it meant paying. So, if a President
of the country has made that declaration, what then is the fuss?
“Payments are made all over the world even though countries may never admit.”
When asked how long it would take for
security agencies to verify the authenticity of the audio clip released
on Monday in which Sharibu was heard pleading for her rescue, Adesina
said he could not say but it should not take long.
“It is within the purview of the
Department of State Services to do that but it should not take long Left
to the President, he wants her back today,” he added.
On whether the Presidency was keeping in
touch with the family of the abducted girl, Adesina argued that it was
not the responsibility of the President.
He maintained that it ought to be the
job of the local government chairman or the state government under whose
jurisdiction the abduction took place.
The President’s spokesman also said it
was the duty of Non-Governmental Organizations to provide succor to the
families of abducted persons but sadly many of them preferred to politicize matters and engage in protests.
Adesina added, “I expect the Yobe State
Government to be in touch with the family to grant her some succor. It
is not purely a Presidency matter. In Nigeria, people expect the
Presidency to do everything. The local government and state government
should be in touch with the family.
“That is why you have NGOs. They should
do this instead of engaging in agitations and politicizing the matter.
Those NGOs and agencies and organizations can also do something for the
families.”
Asked to speak on the alleged forgery of
a National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate by the Minister of
Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the President’s spokesman said the NYSC
should be given ample time to conduct a proper investigation.
“It is not how long but how well,” he said when asked why the investigation was taking long.
Asked if the Presidency shared the view
of the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), that Adeosun could hold a government
position without undergoing the mandatory NYSC exercise, Adesina
responded in the negative.
He said Sagay expressed a personal opinion.
The President’s spokesman, however, said Sagay’s input was not needed in this case as the matter did not border on corruption.
Adesina added, “It is his personal
opinion. It was a personal comment. It is not the position of the
government and Prof. Sagay has a right to his opinion.
“It will not be Prof. Sagay’s position to advise on that matter because it is not a corruption matter so to speak.”
In her reaction, however, a former
Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, berated Adesina for smiling
while speaking on the abduction of Sharibu and for also failing to give
precise answers.
Ezekwesili, who is the Co-Convener of
the Bring Back Our Girls group, said this in a series of tweets on her
official Twitter handle.
“Who else listened to the President’s
media aide Femi Adesina, find anything worthy to laugh about while
speaking about abducted children and their parents?
“A spokesperson that never has facts on
hot-button issues — ‘I believe’, “I expect’, ‘some agency not
presidency’. Na REAL wa (sic).”
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