Governor Ayo Fayose has declared that no pupil was abducted by Boko Haram from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, saying that the widely-reported kidnap was a political move aimed at influencing public opinion against the Goodluck Jonathan administration ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Close to 300 pupils of the school were reported to have been abducted from their dormitory in April 2014 by the then rampaging terror group. Earlier this week, Governor Kashim Shettima revealed that it took the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan 19 days to call him after the abduction took place.
But speaking on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day workshop on “Political Aspirants Capacity Enhancement” organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative, Fayose said: “Today, many opposition leaders are underground. I don’t think any of these girls is missing; it is a political strategy. Who is fooling who? If you wanted to use it to remove some people, you have succeeded already.
“I don’t know if there are missing girls but no indication has shown that. It is a political strategy, because I don’t think any girl is missing. If they are missing, let them find them.”
He further claimed that the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners exploited the situation to look for appointments, lamenting that human rights groups have lost their voices since President Muhammadu Buhari came on board.
According to the Governor, “I’m concerned about the activities of human rights groups. Today the government of the day is obeying court order of their choice, while human rights are not respected.
“We must talk about government providing cover for criminals. You are now using that person to harass innocent person. You will never have peace when you hide justice.”
He added, “Police came into town yesterday (Tuesday) to arrest political opponents. If you like, demonise me, I will demonise you. I don’t need the police and the SSS (Department of State Services) to walk in my state. It is when you are not popular that you walk with police.
“Any government that rises against me, that government will come down. I’m Peter the rock. By engaging me, you make me more popular and relevant and then court sympathy. I’m one person that is going places. That is why all these challenges are against me.”