Oby Ezekwesili queries opaqueness associated with release of kidnapped students

Oby Ezekwesili has criticised the opaqueness that has characterized the release of kidnapped students in Kebbi and Niger states, describing such situation as “injurious to Nigeria.”

The former Minister of Education, noted nothing exemplifies this anomaly like the triumphal press releases and statements that gloating public officials often issue to announce that: “The Federal Government has secured the release of abducted victims……”

“Government spokesmen boast of success in ‘securing the release of victims of terrorism’ without ever telling the public who the criminals they negotiated with are, at what cost and under what conditions,” she said.

According to her, “all that Nigerians see is flagrant opaqueness on matters that are injurious to Nigeria.”

Part of her statement read: “Still on the latest episode of abduction and release of our schoolchildren and their teachers from the St Mary’s Private Catholic School in Niger State.

“The @NigeriaGov has a constitutional duty to protect and secure the lives of citizens.

“This Constitutional duty means that our children must have safe schools to attend and excel; never to be subjected to terrorist abductions, killings and other harms.

“That consecutive Administrations and Presidents have woefully neglected their constitutional obligation since the terrorist insurgency began in earnest in 2009 is a fact that cannot be contested by any reasonable person. Our past and present governments – in escalating degrees- basically failed to decisively and effectively tackle terrorists who take up guns against Nigerians and our country.

“Failure with no consequences compounds.

“It now painfully appears that because GRAND Corruption grossly weakened the capacity of our security establishments, all our successive @NigeriaGov implicitly adopted a *Policy of Appeasing Terrorists* as the only way they know to secure Nigerians and Nigeria.”

Nothing exemplifies this anomaly like the triumphal press releases and statements that gloating public officials often issue to announce that ‘The Federal Government has secured the release of abducted victims……,

“Government spokesmen boast of success in “securing the release of victims of terrorism” without ever telling the public who the criminals they negotiated with are, at what cost and under what conditions.”