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Gov Shettima is culpable over Chibok girls’ kidnap, PDP insists

By Adamu Abu and Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja)
10 March 2015   |   8:43 pm
THE Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) insisted yesterday that Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State is culpable in the April 2014 abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, by Boko Haram insurgents.

Gov.-Shettima

• APC flays Lamido’s comment on opposition party

THE Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) insisted yesterday that Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State is culpable in the April 2014 abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, by Boko Haram insurgents.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCO) has frowned at the Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido’s alleged statement yesterday that all that was needed to destroy the APC was to simply pick up two of the party’s key leaders.

A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, on the issue reads in part:

“We have said it from day one that the Governor of Borno State is culpable, and has questions to answer about the abduction of the Chibok girls. This is because he broke his promise to guarantee the security of those girls and he allowed them to be abducted.

“In response to our concern about his role in this matter, all he has done is to hurl personal insults at us and he has failed to answer the questions about his culpability and address the fundamental issues.

“The questions are simple and clear: Did he or did he not ignore the Federal Government’s warning and that of WAEC when they advised him not to allow those examinations to take place in Chibok? Secondly, did he or did he not guarantee the security of those girls? Thirdly, is it not true that he failed to deploy any security personnel to that school that night?

“The record shows that despite his promises of ensuring that the girls would be protected, not one security operative, policeman, soldier, armed man or even adult was with those girls that night except for one elderly gateman who was unarmed.

“The governor failed to keep his promise. He betrayed those girls; he let down Borno State and he let down Nigeria.

“The truth is that the plight of the Chibok girls is the major issue of the day and when we speak out and make these grave and serious allegations, we do not do so lightly. When I say this thing and raise this question, I am not doing so in my personal capacity but as Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan-Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation.

“When I raise these questions, I am doing so on behalf of the President, the Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), and millions of PDP leaders and supporters from all over the country. Our party and each and every one of these people are deeply concerned about the role of Shettima in the Chibok affair and we would continue to ask those questions on their behalf, whether Shettima likes it or not.”

According to Fani-Kayode, “The fact that the governor is not that well educated, and that he never went to any school of note, does not excuse his ignorance and complicity in this matter and it will not absolve him of failing in his sacred duty to protect the people of his state.

“He has sold his own people out; his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has betrayed the Nigerian people and his presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has consistently proved that he is not fit to rule Nigeria.

“Our advice to Shettima and his party is to stop hiding behind and relying on the findings of some inconclusive and incomplete panel report which he claims absolved him of any wrong doing about what happened in Chibok and, instead, should prepare for the day of judgment.

“Shettima and his party are ignoring our questions, concerns and grave allegations and assertions at their own peril. Other than to say this, we have no more time for Governor Shettima. At the end of the day God would judge him for his actions.”

The APC campaign council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, who addressed reporters in Abuja claimed that it was unbecoming of Lamido, who is currently in Lagos attending the PDP governors forum meeting, to make such spiteful remarks.

Shehu maintained that Lamido must have voiced out the intention of the President Goodluck Jonathan- led administration which he claimed has become jittery over the large followership enjoyed by the APC across the country.

Flanked by chieftains of the party, he said: “We all have to watch out in the next few days what happens to our leaders in the person of Bola Tinubu and our presidential candidate, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). If it happens, we know where it is coming from. I hope it is not a silly joke, else people are watching, the world is watching and they should remember they are not beyond the International Criminal Court (ICC).”

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