A rival group to the #Bringbackourgirls coalition, has taken over the regular protest site of the civil movement at Unity Fountain park, Maitama, Abuja.
The group,which goes by the name #Releaseourgirls, took to the streets ostensibly to join the global voices pressuring the Federal Government to take drastic steps to secure the release of the over 200 abducted Chibok girls, but there are suspicions that it was a smokescreen to drum support for the government.
The members of the group, who are mostly young boys, girls and middle-aged women and a few men, were believed to have been sponsored by government officials as they were daily brought to the protest site in hired buses.
The #bringbackourgirls group had engaged in street protests,sit-ins and other public acts to draw global attention to the abduction for more than three weeks.
Members of the group were believed to be private citizens who came together of their own accord to protest against government's alleged tardiness in the rescue of the girls, but the rival group were being brought to the Unity Fountain in hired buses and many of them were seen with the campaign posters of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The two groups reportedly clashed on Wednesday breaking plastic chairs and almost exchanging blows.
But our correspondent who visited the park on Thursday, observed that the #Releaseourgirls group had taken over the protest site, including the spot being used by their rival, as part of moves to rout the coalition led by a former minister of education, Oby Ezekwesili.
A mounted electronic screen on a vehicle brought by the group encouraged the public to become "GEJ Volunteers."
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku had dismissed the group as opposition members of the All Progressives Congress, noting that 90 per cent of them were registered members of the party.
The Ezekwesili group in the meantime held at a symposium on Thursday in continuation of their campaign to pressure the government into action that would expedite the release of the kidnapped girls.
The symposium featured speeches from panelists, including civil rights activities, social commentators and scholars.
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What was the steps outlined by OBY to be taken by Government to bring back our girls?. Iam disappointed in OBY who, due to her position in life, should know that issues like be handled with carefulness because life of innocent girls are involved this.. Oby's group is also being sponsored. Let her go to Chibox and protest to BOKO HARAM to bring back our girls if she is actually sincere in the release of the girls or she just want to score cheap political point for her party.
ReplyDeleteAre you not GEJ/Maku's sympathizer?
DeleteSince Oby is really touched with this abduction...she should lead d campaign straight into sambisa with her crew make we see how many of d so called group go agree to go...na then u go dy hear many excuses like..I have medical appointment tomorrow etc
ReplyDeleteSince Oby is really touched with this abduction...she should lead d campaign straight into sambisa with her crew make we see how many of d so called group go agree to go...na then u go dy hear many excuses like..I have medical appointment tomorrow etc
ReplyDelete