He stated this while addressing the protesters from #Bring Back Our Girls campaign group in Abuja.
He said he is not slow in acting because he is on constant discussions with security chiefs almost daily and is in constant consultations with regional and global partners on the terrorist threats.
He also said that the federal government took action from the first day the girls were abducted, and directed the security services to go after the abductors, noting that the search for the girls had now assumed regional and global proportion and that Nigeria had received strong support from neighbouring countries and international communities, including the United States, China, the United Kingdom and the entire African continent.
‘‘It is wrong and most unfair to suggest that there has been slow reaction to this kidnapping. From the very first day this occurred, the federal government took action directed our security services to go after the abductors.
The search for our daughters has now assumed regional and global proportion and our nation has received strong support from neighbouring countries and international communities, including the united states, china , Africa, the united kingdom and the entire African continent.’’
‘‘That is why I want to appeal to your group that it is important that your genuine patriotic zeal is matched with the realistic understanding of the situation in expressing concern and sentiment on this matter and other matters of terrorism. We are working hard with other nations in order to secure the release of the girls as soon as possible.’’
The President was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT and State, Senator Bala Muhammed and Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Laraba-Mallam, Minister of Niger-Delta, Mr. Darius Ishaku,Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, Senior Assistant to the President on media, Dr. Rueben Abati and the Senior Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Dorun Okukpe among others.
The President also in the speech read by the Minister of State FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, further explained that federal government as part of efforts to rescue the abducted girls had mobilized all resources, military and diplomatic in the search for our girls.
Similarly, he stated that the security forces also had reached out to the Borno State government and community members for support and collaboration to bring back the girls, adding that the search for the girls is receiving support.
‘‘So far, the search for our girls is on and is receiving global support. Nigeria in collaboration with Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin republic have all agreed to establish a single centre for sharing intelligence on the activities of terrorist across our national boundaries.
AApart from those efforts in the public space, the President said federal government had initiated consultations with so many stakeholders to explore alternative matters of resolving this crisis.
‘‘As commander in chief, I meet with security chiefs almost daily and is in constant consultations with regional and global partners on this terrorist threats. As early as January 23 2013, I asked the world help in tackling terrorism, I later met with President Obama during the United Nations Assembly meeting in September 2013, where also I requested for the support of the United States of America.
‘‘Government belief we must all come together to fight terrorism and that protest should be directed to the terrorists who have abducted our girls. Our security men are among the best trained in Africa, they are making so much sacrifice in the fight against terror,’’ he said.
In her response, one of the leaders of the group and former minister of education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, said the group felt disappointed for not meeting with the President stating that none of the issues raised in their letter was addressed in his speech and sought for another audience with him, describing the meeting as a colossal missed opportunity.
‘‘Let Mr. President know that none of the issues raised have been addressed. We actually felt sad at the missed opportunity, there is a colossal missed opportunity but citizens that gathered here today are citizens who are saying, we do not want any fractious fight against the common enemy. That we want a united fight.
‘‘We are not the type that you should be telling about the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan. We will demand from President another opportunity of a meeting of addressing the issues that citizens have put before our commander in Chief. We seek the opportunity of a united nation inspired, mobilised and sincerely spoken to and we want to have that discussion and end to terrorism,’’ she posited. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Guy, you slow.
ReplyDeletePlease can Nigerians demand from Dr. Oby Ezekwesili to outline the practical steps to be taken to bring back our girls. Let her tell us what she would have told the President had it been there was no "colossal missed opportunity". Does she know that lives are involved here?. Or is she leading this group because she is out of Government?. Is she looking for a direct meeting with the President because she is the mother of the abducted girl or because she is the President of USA, BRITAIN, or one of the world powers? or is there any other reason that is only known to her?. Direct the protest to BOKO HARAM, BUHARI, IBB and other northern governors and opinion leaders who can prevail on this mad group to release our girls. Enough of this window dressing, let us be practical for once!. The President cannot march to SAMBISA forest to wrestle these girls out of the clutches of BH. It needs serious planning and action if lives must be preserved!.
ReplyDeleteOby's concern is genuine and should be understood so. Indeed, our govts needs to be more proactive on national issues including industrial unrests that have kept our children out of polytechnics and colleges of education for almost a year now.
ReplyDeleteMr President your reaction has not been very quick sir.
ReplyDelete@ jero or whatever u call urself, if u know ur president is slow and also think its easy to find them Go out there and look for them idiot.
ReplyDeleteplease no vex the man is not slow, he is more than slow...in fact he is the weakest, slowest and greediest president in modern history. if you are in doubt ask the world
DeleteThat was nice questions and the right thing to say if this girls life saved it he's seroius planning and not just talking because we can talk you must think before you talk. The president and every other personal they are all trying it alone going to take the grace of GOD in the case cos the people behind all this is wilding us and they all no what they are doing but let them all remembe that one day will all die and you give account of your life
ReplyDelete@AnonymousMay 23, 2014 at 8:05 AM. Ur points are genuine. I once said it dat Nigerian leaders only voice out when dey are out of power. Is unfortunate
ReplyDeleteGuy forget u slow infact you dull self, a man dt can't call his wife to order! What do we call that! Me I have a wife and she can't disgrace me the way yours did. Get ur act right, its not too late, you can change even if na dem ur enemies just punish the corrupt ones we don't care so far he or she has once soiled his/her hand we will support you but without that you are not fit to rule! 6yrs no corrupt individual prosecuted or jailed by the anti graft agencies haba!!!
ReplyDelete#MrPresidentisSlow
ReplyDeleteOga jona,you are the most slow,weak and NO-experience president so far. Infact,you are more like a “DEAD“ president not even a slow president.
ReplyDeleteLets be very objective here. Our president has been too quiet. we elected a president and we want to see and hear him address us, and not his aides addressing us as we have been experiencing. secondly, the international collaboration on rescuing our girls does not absolve our president from responsibility. I personally hold him responsible for all the lives and property that has been lost in Nigeria because he is my president and I expect him to protect us. He should learn to take responsibility as a president.
ReplyDeletethe whole world is anxious to have the girls rescued; but even more anxious are the families directly affected. they need some comfort; a show of solidarity; they need to hear some hope inspiring words from their president, not just daily reports by aides... even a visit to chibok to meet with them would have gone a long way. they are not asking for too much... just being human!
Oby ezekwesili is simply JOBLESS!!!
ReplyDelete@anon 8.05am you are being sentimental in ur comment,nobody is asking the president to go to sambisa forest he should take action by willing to crush the terrorist,he should use his maximum power,the president is not doing enough,he should have bombed the sambisa forest long before the girls were abducted even though we might lose some innocent souls in the cause,but that will be the end of terror in nigeria,we lose soldiers daily,there must be an end to this.
ReplyDeleteGoodluck or badlock or whatsoever you called yourself you are not only weaks you are almost a death president alike of waht some people called you clueless we will show you, your way come 2015.
ReplyDeleteThe only success that will be achieved is when this girls returns home safely. All this fools that are saying that the President is slow are the people that cannot even manage their homes. Some army personnels, politicians, retired generals,civilians are frustrating the efforts of the president by giving informations to boko haram on the movements of our soldiers that led to the death of so many.
ReplyDeleteok jona kill ur self becos of naija.usless pple.
ReplyDeleteoby okwesilisi is simply acting what obasanjo ask her to do who is the cause of all the problems nigeria now face. he forcefully bring Late gentle yaradua to power knowing his health problem. he engineered ameachi and co to develope interest on aso rock job knowing goodluck is still there. he encourage northern people to demand power back knowing goodluck want to run for the second time. may God help nigeria .
ReplyDeleteWhy cant the useless woman led the protexst to sambisa forest when she was minister what did she render then? And those of you condeming GEJ i pity u must of you can not control ur homes u are blaming GEJ if u are blaming the president what of the Governor of the state? Is it the president that wl come and attack the people when they taken those girls away when he is in Aso rock blaming the president is not the solution is has written it wl happen leave this man alone
ReplyDeleteSome many fools type useless comments here everytime,has anyone in Dis country who wants Book Haram to end proffer any solution to Jega?has any opposition give how to curb BH?you people sit in ur room an pick ur fone to type nonsense here,is it to enter d forest to bring back our girls?or bomb d forest like d fool said in his comment?should Jega carry gun to d forest?pls read Dis before u kill me with ur comments- a man has bin on his sick bed some years and his relatives could not do anything to heal him,as soon as he died his wife became d one responsible for his sickness and killed him.pls we should check oursef and ask big questions rather Dan killing d president.
ReplyDeletetruth r always bitter 2 d earing... Wat has been is archievement since he became president, rather encouraging all sort of immorallities in d govt witout strong anticipating or proactive measure to tackle it... To me 9ja is lyk a bus wit an inexperience driver.
ReplyDeletetruth r always bitter 2 d earing... Wat has been is archievement since he became president, rather encouraging all sort of immorallities in d govt witout strong anticipating or proactive measure to tackle it... To me 9ja is lyk a bus wit an inexperience driver.
ReplyDeleteOk o, for all of you people saying "GEJ is trying his best" I pray with all my heart that God will ensure that your life is led and you lead your families the same way GEJ is leading Nigeria IJN. If any of you can't AMEN to that, then y'all HYPOCRITES
ReplyDeleteI notice u guys just felt u can jst type nonsense wit ur dirty hands condeming ur president I ask how many of u cn control just ur family members. ...you say the president is slow re u not nigeria kit up and join civilian JTF and bring back our girls
ReplyDelete