Chibok girls’ release: FG’s diversionary tactic, selling of cheap dummies —Fayose

GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has lambasted the Federal Government on the release of 82 additional Chibok girls from Boko Haram captivity, describing the report as “tactics to divert attention from the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Fayose said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, that it had “become the pastime of the Buhari Presidency each time it is under fire for underperforming or had serious issues it could not sufficiently explain to the people, it resorts to flying dubious kites and selling cheap dummies to distract the people and obfuscate the issue at hand.”

But chieftains of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state differed from the views of the governor, saying rather it was cheering news and that it was a step in the right direction for the Buhari administration and a fulfilment of some of his campaign promises to Nigerians.

A former House of Representatives member, Bamidele Faparusi, in a statement said the release of the girls was a pointer the belief that President Buhari had not reneged on his electoral promises.

Faparusi said: “When President Buhari came on board, the release of the girls from

Sambisa forest looked bleak. But today, the parents of these girls are beginning to see a ray of hope that there would be a reunion with their daughters someday.

“I want to salute the Federal Government for living up to expectation. Meeting the people’s expectations often reinforced their belief in government and imbues their sense of patriotism. With this release, Nigerians wherever they live can be proud that they have a responsible and responsive government in place that is ready to secure the lives of its citizens.”

Also reacting, a governorship aspirant in APC, Kayode Ojo, commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the release of the 82 girls, saying “the Federal Government has again shamed its critics by this outstanding achievement.”

Ojo said the courage of President Buhari, his team and various security agencies deserved commendation for securing the release of these girls,” and expressed delight over the development while congratulating “the parents of the girls and Nigerians at large for the unprecedented achievements.”

Governor Fayose had said: “Right now, a matter of urgent national importance arresting the attention of all and sundry is that of the President’s health. While I continue to pray, in conjunction with other Nigerians, for the President’s quick recovery, I condemn without equivocation this shameless playing on the intelligence and psyche of Nigerians taking undue advantage of the vexed issue of the so-called Chibok girls.

“It has become the style of this government to distract attention but the truth will be told some day. Which Chibok girls are they talking about? Chibok girls who purportedly were writing Physics WAEC examinations but cannot speak simple English? Chibok girls who were shielded from the media? Till today the media have not been allowed access to the so-called Chibok girls.

“What is not missing cannot be found. Despite the strenuous efforts at cover-up, discerning Nigerians understand that the stories do not add up. When is the next batch of Chibok girls coming? When is the next make-believe? When there is the need for another cover-up, distraction and diversion of the people’s attention and focus, they will fly their usual kite and sell the self-same jaded dummy.”