Shettima slams Chikwe over comments on Chibok’s abduction

By Lawrence Olaoye

Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima yesterday described as an affront to the nation’s security forces the yesterday remarks by the Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Kema Chikwe, raising doubts on whether indeed, schoolgirls were abducted at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, 2014 or not.

The governor, who spoke his Special Adviser, Isa Gusau, said “We find that report a big affront that undermines the National Security Council which held a meeting that dwelled extensively on the matter with a directive to the armed forces to rescue the girls.

“By her remark, Chikwe has undermined the integrity of all of Nigeria’s security forces because her questions appear to mean that the security agencies in the country do not know what they are doing for holding a National Security Council meeting and deliberating on something that was doubtful and yet giving directives to address it.”

Chikwe had yesterday at a national prayer she organized for women at the PDP headquarters requested that the identity of those kidnapped girls be made public.

Shettima said, “Kema Chikwe’s remark seem to attack the integrity of the security agencies, giving the impression that nothing was done.”

He disclosed that “Unlike Kema Chikwe that seeks to undermine the integrity of the security agencies and the President, what we do know and believe is that the President, Goodluck Jonathan couldn’t have deemed it necessary to host an expanded National Security Council that was attended by him, all Security chiefs, Governors of the 36 states and key leaders of this country, during which the schoolgirls was extensively discussed; if the President was not properly briefed by the security agencies under the Federal Government, that schoolgirls were abducted.

“The Defence Headquarters have issued several statements, including one that says forces were closing in on the abductors; we, therefore, wonder why Kema Chikwe should make mockery of all of these patriotic efforts.

The statement read further: “Governor Kashim Shettima had visited that school some days ago, he was escorted by security forces, which all witnessed how parents made complaints, pictures of the parents and some of the rescued girls were all over the media. The NTA also showed live pictures. Even though most of the school buildings were raised during that attack and property vandalised, records of schoolgirls that registered for WAEC and NECO exams cannot be a difficult one to get since the examination bodies are there with records.

“Doubt raised by Mrs. Chikwe displays insensitivity to the plight of parents of these girls and to the feelings of all Borno people. The Borno State Government is the most troubled by the incident. The Governor of Borno State is, as should be expected, under so much pressure from families and community members of Chibok and indeed the rest of the State.

“It is important that the Nigeria security agencies call Mrs Kema Chikwe to order so she desist from mocking the National Security Council and misleading Nigerians and rest of the world that have been attracted by this unfortunate incident which has left the Government and people of Borno State highly distressed,” the statement concluded.