By Jibrin Ibrahim
For the 20th day in a row, the Abuja Family of #BringBackOurGirls continued its sitting at the Unity Fountain. It was observed that the whole world media has been reporting regularly the plight of the girls and the ever-expanding national and international campaign to rescue them. It was however noted with shock and anger that Nigeria’s public service media stable, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) have never covered the story. As these are public media operated with taxpayer funds, it is unacceptable that they refuse to report the biggest trending story in the country for three successive weeks. It was pointed out that Voice of Nigeria was reporting the story regularly but its broadcasts are directed at listeners outside the country. IT WAS RESOLVED THAT THE CAMPAIGN WILL MARCH ON NTA AND FRCN TO INFORM THEM THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT THE BIGGEST TRENDING STORY IN NIGERIA AND THE WORLD. THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR WILL ALSO BE REPORTED TO THE RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL BODIES.
The Paris meeting convened by French President Francois Holland was also discussed. Members appreciated the result obtained on closer collaboration within the region on the war on terror and the focus on improved intelligence gathering and joint action. The sitting however expressed its concern that there was a lot of discussion on medium and long term issues but there appears to have been very little on concrete plans to #BringBankOurGirls now and alive.
The sitting also discussed the important role ECOWAS has to play in resolving the crisis generated by the growth of terrorism in the region. A member of the ECOWAS Parliament, Honourable Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi briefed the Abuja Family that they had discussed the issue comprehensively and their Peace and Security and Human Rights Committees are preparing their detailed positions. Meanwhile, they are requesting that an ECOWAS Summit be convened immediately to address the issue of the roll out of an immediate West African Strategic Approach to #BringBackOurGirls and defeat terrorism.
Finally, it was resolved to reach out to the embassies of our non-ECOWAS neighbours, Chad and Cameroon to solicit their cooperation in this struggle to #BringBackOurGirls now and alive. The sitting reconvenes this afternoon at the Unity Fountain at 3 p.m. Come One, Come All.
