Ezekwesili blames Chibok girls’ abduction, non-rescue on Nigeria’s loss of direction

A leader of #Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaign, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said the abduction of over 200 girls and their non-recovery several months after, could only happen in a nation that has lost its way.

Speaking yesterday, at the launch of Catalyst For Global Peace and Justice Initiative, (CPJ), a faith based organisation; Ezekwesili disclosed that the BBOG group has not received a dime from any local or international organisation to support its efforts.

She declared that despite that, members of the group have kept pushing for the rescue of the girls, because “the abduction is an abomination that must not be allowed to thrive.”She expressed the hope that one day every Nigerian child would get a sense that when anything happens to them, people will rise up to defend them, especially because justice is of God.

The former World Bank Vice President noted that, “as long as there is a society, there would be people and where there are people, there would be problem,” adding that the Church can no longer be marginal in the affairs of the state and governance.

When the Church decides to do otherwise, she stated, they have to live with the problems in the society, since according to her the role of the Church in the society has been so devalued and neglected, almost absent; thereby, the society left to wander.

She noted that despite the fact that Botswana, Singapore and Nigeria were colonized by Britain and got independence at almost the same period; one thing that has put the countries apart, in terms of development is good governance.

“Botswana started its journey relying almost solely on foreign donor to live before it discovered diamond, it has become a better nation at present than Nigeria, because it has institutionalised good governance,” she pointed out.

Earlier, the keynote Speaker, Dr. Sam Amadi, who spoke on, Activating Credible Commitment For Good Governance and Social Justice, stated that eradicating corruption without freedom would create chaos.

He appealed to the promoters of the new initiative to ensure that its message is that in Christ there is truth, while Christ transforming culture should guide the philosophy of the foundation.

The Convener of the project, Abraham Sam Aiyedogbon, disclosed that when the idea for the organisation started, “it was not about coming up with a movement, but just concerned about affecting lives positively, but the mission was to act as catalyst to empower citizens to work for peace and social justice.”