Chibok girls: Buhari invited UN because other options failed, says Adesina
Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari decided to seek the assistance of the United Nations (UN) in rescuing the Chibok schoolgirls because other options did not work.
Speaking in an interview with Channels, Adesina said the president was determined to do whatever it takes to rescue the girls from the “clutches” of Boko Haram.
“The president has always stressed the fact that whatever it takes to get our girls back from the clutches of Boko Haram, the government was willing to do, and several options had been exploited, which didn’t work,” he said.
“So, he is taking it forward thinking that if the insurgents don’t have confidence in speaking to the government or its agent, maybe they will respect international agencies and cooperate with them.
“So, that was why he took it to the scribe of the United Nations.”
Asked if he felt the UN was capable of assisting, he said: “Well, no option can be ruled out. You agreed with me that the issue of the Chibok girls has reached a desperate level, and so no whatever can be done however desperate, as long as it brings the girls back, the government is ready to do.”
Adesina said Nigeria has put its option on the table, and the onus is on the agency to get back to Nigeria.
During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York, Buhari told Ban Ki-moon that he would e appreciative if the UN could mediate with the sect to secure the release of the girls who have been in captivity for over two years.
That is a right step in the right direction to prove wrong critics who thought the Chibok issue is a scam to discredit tye previous government.
Taking Adesina by his own words, “The president has always stressed the fact that whatever it takes to get our girls back from the clutches of Boko Haram, the government was willing to do, and several options had been exploited, which didn’t work,” he said.
So Buhari is accepting his failure in rescuing the Chibok girls, which was one of his cardinal campaign promises. So it is now left for the UN to intervene.
Very interesting.