Abducted school girls: Chikwe’s comments absurd, insensitive – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the comment credited to the PDP National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe, in which she expressed doubts about the abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok in Borno State, saying by the comments, Mrs. Chikwe has simply crossed the line and plumbed to the depths of absurdity and insensitivity.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed concern that such an incautious and insensitive statement could be made by a woman, a mother, a grandmother and a top official of the ruling PDP over an issue that is undoubtedly the worst tragedy and biggest embarrassment to Nigeria.

It said the comments raised even more concern because of the position in the ruling party of Mrs. Chikwe, wondering if her irresponsible statement represented the closet opinion of the ruling party or the unstated stand of the presidency – in which case, it explains the FG’s dawdling approach to the rescue of the girls.

‘’It has been said that politics should not be brought into issues of national security. But how can anyone keep quiet in the face of this glaring assault on the sensitivity of a whole nation by a supposed leader of the ruling party? Who indeed is attempting to politicize a national tragedy, undoubtedly the worst in the history of our nation, if not the PDP?

‘’Does this explain why the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has not deemed it fit to make a national broadcast to assure a dumbstruck nation that he is indeed in charge, to give hope to the shell-shocked parents of the girls and to inspire the military, three weeks after this unprecedented national tragedy? Is this why the President and Commander-in-Chief has yet to visit Chibok?” it queried.

‘’We urge our patriotic soldiers, and indeed all concerned, to ensure that these innocent girls are returned home safely to their parents. We commend all the groups that have staged public protests to force the authorities to act faster on this issue for their efforts. We say all hands must be on deck to end this national nightmare as soon as possible,’’ the APC said.