ANOTHER ATTEMPT: President Goodluck Jonathan To Meet Chibok Parents On July 22
Photo: Goodluck Jonathan
Another attempt by President Goodluck Jonathan to meet the parents of school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State, more than 3 months ago, will be held July 22.
The spokesperson of the Kibaku Chibok Area Development Association, Dauda Iliya, claimed this while speaking yesterday in Abuja, Premium Times reports.
According to the official, the body received an invitation from presidency Wednesday morning, 3 days after his meeting with Pakistani rights activist Malala Yousafzai when he made a vow to have an encounter with the aggrieved relatives.
Iliya was quoted saying:
"We just got the letter at around 11 a.m. this morning from the (Presidential) Villa. it came as a unilateral form of communication."
This coming after the failed July 15 meeting which was meant to take place in Presidential Villa. The guests were said to have called off the meeting the very last moment for the unknown reason. Jonathan blamed BringBackOurGirls campaigners for "playing politics" and whisking away the guests.
However parents in the face of Iliya would later claim that the accusation is baseless, explaining that on Tuesday they "did
not come to Abuja at the instance of government or its representatives
for a meeting with Mr. President but on the full understanding that they
were coming to meet with Malala". The invitation came later, as clarified previously.
The statement sheds light on the situation:
"The parents were not allowed to make any decision. It was when they were on the stage that the information came that the president will be meeting with you, not that the president is asking to meet you."
Meanwhile within the 3-month period Jonathan has not visited Chibok to speak with the girls’ relatives. The president allegedly planned to travel to Chibok in May, but his trip was reportedly cancelled due to security issues.
The statement sheds light on the situation:
"The parents were not allowed to make any decision. It was when they were on the stage that the information came that the president will be meeting with you, not that the president is asking to meet you."
Meanwhile within the 3-month period Jonathan has not visited Chibok to speak with the girls’ relatives. The president allegedly planned to travel to Chibok in May, but his trip was reportedly cancelled due to security issues.
