As protests have again started springing over the schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect from their school in Chibok, Borno State over 300 days ago, a delegation from the presidency on Thursday had a close-door meeting with parents of the girls to update them on the efforts of the government to rescue the girls.
President Goodluck Jonathan, earlier Thursday, had disclosed that the more than 200 girls are still alive.
In a television interview monitored by our correspondent, Jonathan said the girls are alive, saying if they had been killed Abu Shekau, the acclaimed leader of the Boko Haram sect, would have released a video to announce it.
He said he was sure that the girls were being kept to act as shield now that the heat is on the terrorists.
“The good story is that they’ve not been killed. They are still alive because when terrorists kill they display,” he said.
The government delegation to the meeting was led by the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil.
Though the venue of the meeting was kept away from the public, a statement by Olawale Rasheed, the minister’s chief press secretary, said the meeting was more of a briefing on the level of government’s commitment to the safe return of the girls.
The statement quoted the Minister as telling the affected parents: “Mr. President is pursuing multi- faceted strategies which address the pains, anger and frustrations of victims.
“Our President directed me to tell you that his government is committed to doing everything possible for the safe return of your daughters.
“I am here to convey the sympathy of Mr President and the entire Federal cabinet to you the parents and families as well as all other victims.
“As you are all aware, our military is having the upper hand in this sacred war. We believe by the grace of God that your children will return safely.
“I assure you that not only will rescue operations be successful, the other three goals of reclaiming occupied territories, resettlement of IDPS and rebuilding of communities, will be pursued to a logical conclusion.
“This is a personal pledge of Mr. President which the entire administration is committed to.”
Meanwhile, President Jonathan, during the session with the television station, said he was sure to win the 2015 presidential election which would hold on March 28.
He noted that his winning the election could be by a small margin since this is common with every incumbent president seeking re-election.
He noted that unlike in 2011, he was being challenged by a major opposition whose strength lied in the merger of four political parties.
This strength, he said, cannot deter him since the same opposition is strengthened by elements in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the under which he is seeking re-election.
He reiterated his government’s resolve to ensure that the elections hold and the May 28 handover is observed.
While appealing to fellow politicians to shun violence, he also re-emphasised that there was no plan to remove Professor Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the rumour of his plot to send Jega on a compulsory leave is unfounded since he had not at anytime discussed it with anyone.
