₦airaland Forum

Late former Minister of Information
and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, was given seven months to live by her US doctor in 2012, it has been revealed. The legendary one-time Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) ended up beating the prediction by over two years.

Addressing newsmen in his Agulu
village in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, said about Dora, who died in India on June 7: “When my wife told me that she observed a lump in her body, we went to the USA and did a surgery. But after sometime, she took ill again and we went for another test; it was then that a very good Nigerian doctor based in the USA, Dr. Egbujobi, who performed the surgery, called me and said my wife had Endometrial Carcinoma, a very rare cancer, and that those who had that type of cancer do not live for more than seven months.
“From then, I became downcast and
couldn’t fathom how to tell her but when she noticed my constant bad
mood, she told me that I was hiding
something from her which I don’t do, that I was no longer the man she
married many years ago. I then summoned up courage to tell her what the doctor said.
“To my surprise, she didn’t take it as
bad as I thought she would. She
simply told me that it was the doctors that had said it and not God. While in the hospital, she was still very positive and said, daddy, you see, the doctor said I will live for only seven months but here I am; God is in control.

Despite the doctor’s report, she lived
for two and half years before she finally died.”
Dr. Akunyili dismissed the rumour
that his Dora died of cervical cancer, stressing that she rather died of endometrial carcinoma. This, according to him, is a rare cancer that is not usually detected early until it has eaten deep into the system.

Commenting on how life has been
since after Dora’s death, Dr. Akunyili said: “Though she is dead, I know her spirit is with us because since her death, anything I want for her burial simply comes easy. Dora is a very intelligent person. If I start describing her worth, we won’t leave here today.
She electrifies the house whenever she is in the house. She doesn’t
discriminate between the rich and the
poor. She has a formidable memory.
When she is in the house, you won’t
even know that she is a Professor
because she will cook, clean and serve my food, holding water for me to wash my hands.”

Dr. Akunyili disclosed that Dora
received over 800 awards from local and international organisations which have been used to decorate the family’s living room at Agulu where her body will lie-in-state before burial on August 28. He said that another award would be conferred on Dora posthumously in the USA in November this year based on her outstanding work in her field of work as a pharmacist.

Eulogizing his late wife who he
described as a true Nigerian who had an undiluted love for her country, Dr. Akunyili recalled that when the family won an American lottery and received the US Green Card, officials of that country wanted to make her a citizen but she vehemently refused, insisting
that nothing would take her out of her home country on a permanent basis.

Reeling out the activities for the burial of late Professor Akunyili, the
husband said that the burial activities would begin on August 22, 2014 with a wake-keep in Enugu, to be followed by a night of tributes at the International Conference Center,
Abuja, on August 25, while the burial
would be on August 28 after a Funeral Mass at the Madonna
Catholic Church, Agulu.

Speaking at the press conference, the last child of Akunyili, Obumneme, a Psychology graduate, said that it was a bitter taste for anybody to lose any of the parents. He said they had been consoled by the fact that his late mother was not only a mother at home but also for the nation at large.
“I will miss her greatly,” Obumneme
said. “Her death has created a
vacuum no one can ever fill.”

http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=6875&title=Dora-Akunyili-given-7-months-to-live-in-2012-%E2%80%94Husband-%E2%80%A2Reveals-real-cause-of-her-death

berem: dude,whoever moved the thread to front page changed it from "massive crowd" to "massive welcome". I saw "massive crowd" hence my post.

Pls dear, I never wrote 'massive crowd'. Just admit you were in a haste to comment or you didn't notice. Thank You!

Aigbofa: Did he get tested for ebola as reported earlier?

Nobody on his entourage took any Ebola test. Never believe everything the media tells you!

Nigerians in Diaspora singing national anthem to welcome President Jonathan to US

Nigerians in Diaspora Welcoming President Jonathan to the US today

Nigerians in Diaspora & PDP America welcoming President Jonathan to the US today & proclaiming 'United Against Boko Haram'

President Jonathan being welcomed to Washington DC on arrival at the hotel.

President Jonathan on arrival in
Washington DC a few mins ago for the US -Africa Summit

Wife of former Military Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Hajiya Asiya Buhari, Thursday condemned the assassination attempt on her husband in Kaduna last week.

She therefore, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign from office, saying it was high time he did so.

In a terse statement made available to media houses, Asiya Buhari advised the President to follow the example of former South Korean Prime Minister, Jung Hong-won who resigned over his government’s handling of the ferry accident which left more than 300 people dead.
“As he saw grieving families suffering with the pain of losing their loved ones and the sadness and resentment of the public, he took responsibility as prime Minister; he apologised to his country and
resigned because of service to
humanity,” she said.
“Jonathan should emulate such a
leader, because Nigerians have been dying daily, for the four years, hoping that government is going to do something, but we are tired of this insecurity and increased attacks on innocent people.
“Where is Jonathan? What is he doing? If action is not taken now, when? It is not enough to verbally condemn; action is long overdue,”
Asiya concluded.

http://dailypost.ng/2014/08/01/buharis-wife-asks-jonathan-resign-boko-haram-insurgency/

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has again challenged the All Progressives
Congress to explain its relationship
with the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, saying the party was not able to controvert him, few months ago, when he accused it of sponsoring the sect.

While speaking with journalists in Osogbo, Osun State capital, after
attending a campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, Fani-
Kayode insisted that some members of the APC, particularly those from the North, were sponsoring the operations of Boko Haram.

He said, “The APC in the North is the political wing of Boko Haram in the
northern part of Nigeria. This, I have said before and no one amongst them was bold enough to challenge me. I will continue to say it again and again. The northern elements in the APC have to explain to all Nigerians why some of their leaders in the North support, encourage and defend Boko Haram members.”
“No member of the APC has been bold enough to controvert what I said about their relationship with the Boko Haram members in the North. I stand to be challenged if any of them has a contrary view.”

Fani-Kayode, who recently defected
from the APC to the PDP, also said he had met with the people that matter in the PDP including President Goodluck Jonathan and they had assured him of an enabling stay in the party.
He said he would work for the victory of the PDP in the forthcoming governorship in Osun State and also contribute to the victory of the party in the 2015 general elections. He added that the PDP remains the only national party in the country.

When asked to comment on his meeting with President Jonathan,
Fani-Kayode said “I will not like to
reveal what we discuss in the secret.
It was a closed door meeting and let
us leave that for now.”

In his reaction to Fani-Kayode’s comments, the National Publicity
Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, told The Punch that the party would rather spend its time on more productive ventures than respond to the former aviation
minister’s allegations.
“We will not spend time again
defending the obvious. We will rather spend our time on more productive ventures, ” Mohammed said.

http://www.punchng.com/news/fani-kayode-challenges-apc-to-explain-links-with-bharam/

Rest In Peace

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday commiserated with a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, on the death of his son, Hamza.

In astatement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President expressed the belief that the outpouring of support at this moment by his friends and associates would comfort El-Rufai. He prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul.

The statement read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with a deep sense of grief and shock, news of the sudden and untimely death of Hamza El-Rufai, son of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

“On behalf of himself, his family and the Federal Government, President
Jonathan extends his heartfelt commiserations to Mallam el-Rufai
and all members of the El-Rufai family. “The President says although no amount of words can fill the deep gap created by the loss of Hamza, he hopes that the outpouring of support at this moment by friends and associates will comfort Mallam El Rufai.“President Jonathan prays for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed and also for God’s blessing, comfort and protection for Mallam El-Rufai and the rest of his family.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-commiserates-with-el-rufai-on-sons-death/

President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed former Chairman of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Bamanga Tukur as the 'Ambassador at Large".

This was contained in a statement by the media office of Bamanga Tukur, issued to condemn the recent Kaduna bombing.

The statement read in part, "This is
the office of the Ambassador at Large to the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. An Ambassador-at-Large is an envoy who is assigned special duties by the president.
"The Letter from Mr. President, Dr.
Goodluck appointing Dr. Tukur read in part: 'The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has approved the appointment of Alhaji Bamanga Mohammed Tukur as Ambassador-At-Large'."

Between 1994 and 1995, Tukur served as Minister for Industries.
Other appointments held include the
following; Vice Chairman of the International Ports and Harbours
Association; Chairman of the International Cargo Handling Association; President/Chairman of
the Governing Council of Institute of
Business Development; Member,
Ghana Investors Advisory Council;
Member, Presidential Council on
Investment of the Republic of Benin in February, 2007; and Member of the Presidential Advisory Council in 2010.

However, Tukur urged Nigerians not
to attach religion to the activities of
Boko Haram.
He added, "Our prayers are with those that lost their lives, wounded and saved from the hands of terrorists.

Our Country is going through some
challenges, the newly appointed Ambassador at Large, Dr. Bamanga Tukur condemned in its entirety the
killings of innocent lives and attacked on political and religious leaders in the country.
"There is no religion that support or incite their followers to such barbaric acts within any community or nation.

Our prayers goes to the families of
the bereaves and thank God for his mercies and protections on the lives
of former Head of States General
Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh
Dahiru Bauchi amongst others.
"Our heart goes to those that were
injured and maimed by the twin bombings in this Holy Month of
Ramadan in kaduna which is totally against the teaching and preaching
Islam."
He also called citizens of the country to find a ground to unite against such violence and work towards greater peace for all in Nigeria.

http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/jonathan-creates-new-portfolio-appoints-tukur-ambassador-large#.U9IMzgb_4T4.facebook

President Goodluck Jonathan has
spoken with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on the phone over the bomb
attack that nearly claimed the life of the leading opposition figure, TheCable understands.

This telephone conversation came a day after Jonathan’s camp and Buhari had exchanged hot words over the impeachment proceedings
against some opposition governors. In the couple of bombings in Kaduna on Wednesday which claimed scores of lives, Buhari escaped death when his convoy was caught in a blast at Kawo area of the city while he was on the way to his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State.

Buhari described it as an
assassination attempt. His vehicle was completely destroyed and several people were killed, although his security aides also survived the
attack.

TheCable learnt that the president put a call through to Buhari on Wednesday evening to express his sympathy with the former head of state.

Details of the conversation are sketchy, but TheCable was informed that the president promised a thorough investigation into the incident.

The conversation was said to be “warm, cordial and sincere” by a source in the know.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although initial suspicion will link it to Boko Haram which has reportedly made attempts on the life of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who repeatedly criticises the activities of the insurgents.

The first blast on Wednesday was close to the venue of the Ramadan
lecture which Bauchi gave.
Buhari has also been critical of Boko
Haram but he was not thought to be
at risk of an attack.

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati issued a statement describing the attacks as an attempt to “inflame passions”.

http://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-jonathan-calls-buhari-over-blast

And Finally......President Jonathan Speaks with the Parents of the Abducted Schoolgirls

PRINCIPAL OF THE GOVERNMENT GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL, CHIBOK , MRS. ASABA KWAMBURA (LEFT) CHECKING THE NUMBER OF THE ESCAPED SCHOOL GIRLS FROM THE CAMP OF THE TERRORIST DURING THEIR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AT THE BANQUET HALL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA.

CROSS SECTION OF PARENTS OF THE KIDNAPPED GOVERNMENT GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL GIRLS IN CHIBOK DURING THE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ABUJA.

berem: honestly, I did!

More pictures abeg!

More Pictures....loading

SCHOOL GIRLS THAT ESCAPED FROM THE CAMP OF THE TERRORIST, CHIBOK, ARRIVING
FOR A SPECIAL MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT GOOODLUCK
JONATHAN AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA , ABUJA

berem: you wanted to rush and become "first to comment" even when the OP hasn't finished posting pictures. You still ended up saying crap! Mtscheeew!


So after the meeting, what next?

lol....u got him there!

PRINCIPAL OF THE GOVERNMENT
GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL, CHIBOK , MRS. ASABA KWAMBURA at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Some parents arriving the venue of the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan

Some of the girls who escaped from Boko Haram arriving the venue of the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK
JONATHAN ; SENATE PRESIDENT ,
SENATOR DAVID MARK ;
COORDINATOR, NATIONAL
ECONOMIC TEAM AND MINISTER
OF FINANCE , DR. NGOZI
OKONJO –IWEALA AND SECURITY
ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT, COL
(RTD) SAMBO DASUKI AT THE
SPECIAL MEETING OF PRESIDENT
GOODLUCK JONATHAN WITH THE
PARENTS OF THE KIDNAPPED
STUDENTS AND THE ESCAPED
STUDENT HELD AT THE BANQUET
HALL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
VILLA, ABUJA

President Goodluck Jonathan on
Tuesday met with parents of some of the schoolgirls who were kidnapped by men of Boko Haram insurgent group in Chibok, Borno State on 14 April.

Apart from the parents of the students, the meeting was also attended by opinion and community leaders of Chibok, some of the girls who escaped from Boko Haram captivity and parents of the escaped girls.
They arrived Abuja yesterday and were lodged in NICON Luxury hotel from where they were taken in four Abuja mass transit buses to the meeting with the President.

Here are some pictures from the closed-door meeting with the President;

We have noted with much surprise and regret, the statement issued by General Muhammadu Buhari today in which he made some wild and totally unsustainable allegations against President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Although he tries very hard to deny it in the statement titled “Pull Nigeria Back From the Brink”, there can be no doubt that General Buhari has sadly moved away from the patriotic and statesmanlike position he recently adopted on national security, which President Jonathan publicly commended, and has now reverted to unbridled political partisanship.
There can be no other explanation or justification for the completely unwarranted and very uncharitable assault on the conduct and integrity of President Jonathan which the statement he issued today represents.

General Buhari’s main grouse which clearly motivated his ill-considered statement appears to be what he called “the gale of impeachments or the utilisation of desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state”.It is most unfortunate that instead of working to put their house in order and resolve the leadership crises and internal contradictions that have plunged their party into a downward spiral, General Buhari and his opposition allies have resorted to blaming a blameless President for their woes.

The processes for impeaching an elected Governor are clearly stipulated in the National Constitution which Nigeria has operated since 1999. The President of Nigeria is not assigned any role in that process and President Jonathan has certainly not played any role in the recent impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa or in the impeachment drama currently being played out in Nasarawa State. For the record, President remains fully committed to upholding the letters, principles and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution as he has sworn, and defending the rule of law and integrity of the democratic process with all his might.

General Buhari talks about anarchy. He needs to be reminded that President Jonathan from his humble beginnings as a Deputy Governor in Bayelsa state to date, has never in his acts, or utterances, recommended or promoted violence as a tool of political negotiation.

Contrary to whatever General Buhari and his new friends may imagine, President Jonathan fully respects the rights, powers, authority and independence of elected representatives of the people, including the members of the state assemblies who have concluded or initiated impeachment proceedings against their state governors on grounds which they consider justifiable. The constitution does not give the President any power to intervene in such proceedings and President Jonathan has never arrogated such powers to himself or sought to exert any nefarious and unconstitutional influence on state assemblies in Adamawa, Nasarawa or anywhere else in other to secure undue political advantage for his party as General Buhari unjustifiably alleges.

President Jonathan remains true to his declaration that no political ambition of his is worth the life of a single Nigerian. The President has definitely not declared war on his own country or deployed federal institutions in the service of partisan interests as General Buhari falsely claims. Neither has he been using the common wealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition, as the former Head of State inexcusably asserts.
Also, President Jonathan has never at any time ordered that any Nigerian should be kidnapped or that anyone should be crated and forcefully transported in violation of decent norms of governance.

We therefore urge General Buhari to tarry a while, ponder over his own antecedents and do a reality check as to whether he has the moral right to be so carelessly sanctimonious. It may well be time to pull the brakes, as General Buhari says in his statement, but it is he and others who have resorted to idle scapegoating and blaming President Jonathan for their self-inflected political troubles who need to stop their inexcusable partisanship and show greater regard for the truth, democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, peace, security and the well-being of the nation.

Reuben Abati - Special Adviser to the President

http://reubenabati.com.ng/DON-acirc-T-BLAME-ME-FOR-YOUR-PARTY-acirc-S.html#sthash.i27hdhfe.gbpl

JECBOSS: This is Serious!

very serious indeed! hope the relevant security agencies will live up to expectation to avert the possible occurrence.

AN alleged fresh threat by Boko Haram sect that it will attack the Ambeez shopping plaza in Abuja may have created panic among residents of the city.

Security operatives Thursday stormed the plaza located in Zone five, Wuse district and ordered the occupants to vacate the premises. Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Wednesday evening kidnapped two businessmen (names withheld) in Gambouru border town of Ngala Local Council of the state and whisked them away to unknown destination.

The threat letter, which was obtained by The Guardian, was said to have been written by an insider who claimed he is now a changed man. The letter reads in part: “This is to inform all occupants of Ambeez plaza that a threat letter has been sent to this plaza that all occupants should be very careful if possible stay out of the plaza for the next three days starting from Monday to Thursday.

”The author of the warning letter cautioned the occupants not to treat the letter with levity saying, “please don’t toil with this vital information … like those in Emab plaza that got insight and still stayed until many died. In revealing his identity, the writer, who said he is close to the planners of the dastardly act, claimed he is now a child of God. He urged occupants of the plaza to call the attention of the police in case they come across bags on the floor, saying that is the means through which the planned attack would be carried out. He added: “… because that will be the means of bombing Ambeez plaza.

Security should start serious search of lady handbags, cars and pockets of all that come in throughout this period because the information is crucial. Don’t call this rumour and risk your life please be careful many have gone, don’t be victim of careless acts. … I am talking from inside the house of those making this plan but am now a child of God but am still with them exposing them in secret so l am revealing this to all especially children of God ahead of time for caution to be taken by all that are wise.”One of the occupants who spoke to The Guardian on condition of anonymity said: “We got the letter on Monday and that sent jitters down the spine of everybody in the plaza. In fact, some people have even started packing out of the plaza. I think that security authorities are on top of the situation now because some of them came and ordered everybody out of the plaza now. With this evacuation, you can imagine how many people will be thrown into unemployment market. Besides, there are many families that will find survival hard by the reason of suspension of business in this plaza.”This comes as security operatives have cordoned off a popular fresh fruits centre popularly called “farmers market”, which is about 500 meters away from the Inspector General of Police residence.

One of the sellers who called himself Seidu, while lamenting the closure of the market said: “It is very unfortunate that this kind of thing is happening in our country. Most of us selling fruits here are from the North coupled with the fact that this place is not far from the house of the Inspector General of Police, it is a surprise that this kind of thing can happen here. Who is Boko Haram fighting? What do they want? We do not know who Boko Haram is fighting.”The action followed a discovery of a rumoured bomb in the area, which was detonated by the police.
The bomb scare has resulted in panic by most Abuja residents who have resorted to going to shopping centres either in the early hours of the day or early evening when most of the shopping centres are scanty.

This development is also affecting nightlife as most night clubs are now groaning over poor patronage as most of the residents have chosen to stay away from fun centres due to fear of by Boko Haram. Not only are nightclubs recording low sales, even gardens where workers relax or while away time to evade heavy traffic especially on Nyanyan road, have been abandoned.

According to an eyewitness in Gambouru, the gunmen stormed a market in Hilux vehicles and bundled the businessmen into a vehicle and sped off without firing a shot. Confirming the incident Thursday in Maiduguri, military sources also said that there was also an attempt of terrorists’ attacks on Gambouru on Wednesday night.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/lead-story/171312-panic-in-abuja-over-fresh-threat-of-b-haram-attack

Members of the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, South-West Nigeria, have approached a Federal High Court in Lagos for an injunction restraining President Goodluck Jonathan from deploying military personnel for election activities at the forthcoming August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun State.

In a suit lodged today at the Federal
High Court, the party is seeking the
following reliefs:

I. A declaration that, by the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), it is ultra vires the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria to deploy members of the armed forces to Osun State for the purpose of the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on August 9, 2014.

II. A declaration that, by the
Provisions of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), it is ultra vires the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria to deploy members of the armed forces to Osun State during the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on August 9, 2014 whether to supervise, monitor or regulate the
procedure of the said election or for
any other purpose whatsoever.

III. An Order of this Honourable Court restraining the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from
deploying members of the armed forces to Osun State for the purpose of or during the conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on August 9, 2014 whether to
supervise, monitor or regulate the procedure of the said election or for any other purpose whatsoever.

In the suit filed on behalf of APC by
Dr. Muiz A. Banire of M. A. Banire &
Associates, Legal Practitioners, the
party is seeking for the determination of the following question:

1. Whether, having regard to the
supremacy of the Constitution and
the clear provisions of section 217(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), it is not ultra vires the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deploy members of the
armed forces to Osun State for the purpose of supervision, monitoring or regulation the conduct of the
gubernatorial election scheduled to
hold on August 9, 2014 or for any
other purpose whatsoever.

The Originating Summons is supported by a 15-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an APC member, Kufisile Olufemi Michael.
News Express reports that militarisation of the recent governorship election in neighbouring Ekiti State is one of the reasons given by APC for its loss of the coveted seat to the Peoples Democratic Party – the party at the centre, which controls both the police and the military.

http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=6654&title=APC-sues-Jonathan-over-Aug.-9-Osun-governorship-election,-seeks-to-stop-deployment-of-soldiers

By Chesa Chesa, Senior Correspondent, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday offered scholarships to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls to enable them complete their education in any part of Nigeria.

The scholarships are to be awarded to those victims who have escaped and the others still in the custody of their captors, the Boko Haram insurgents. Jonathan made the pledges at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa when he met with renowned girl-child education campaigner, Malala Yousafzai, who turned 17 years on Monday.

Malala, a Pakistani schoolgirl, was shot in the head in 2012 by the terror group, Taliban, for campaigning for girls’ education. July 14th has been set aside by the United Nations as Malala Day for the world to focus on sending girls to school. She is in Nigeria to support girls’ education and advocate release of the over 200 students abducted from their Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State, on April 15 by the Boko Haram terrorists.

“The President will be willing to meet with the parents of the Chibok girls today (Monday). The families are eager to meet with anyone that can help them.“The President said to Malala that he can guarantee that all the girls that have been kidnapped, including the ones that escaped will be given scholarships to go to school in otherparts of the country.“These were the things that he said and we hope that he will be able to bring them to pass”, Director of Communications of Malala Foundation, Eason Jordan, told a press conference after the meeting between Jonathan and Malala.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Malala, who was also accompanied by her father, disclosed that her foundation had raised $200,000 in support of continued education of the abducted Chibok girls on their return.“We have set up the Malala Fund and through the fund, we have raised $200,000 and we want to use it to contribute to those children’s education.“We have started working with two organisations here in Nigeria to be able to help these girls continue their education,” she stated.

She confirmed that Jonathan assured her of two things - to meet with the parents and some of the escaped Chibok girls, and to ensure the safe return of the girls still in Boko Haram captivity.

Malala stressed that the President said he is equally pained and saddened by the fate of the abducted girls, who, he noted, were like his own.“I am here in Nigeria on my 17th birthday for a prize which is to see that every child goes to school.‘This year, my objective is to speak up for my Nigerian sisters, about 200 of them who are under the abduction of Boko Haram and I met the President, Goodluck Jonathan, for this purpose.“I conveyed the voice of my sisters who are out of school or who are still under the abduction of Boko Haram and for those girls who escaped from the abduction but still do not have education.“And in the meeting, I highlighted the same issues which the girls and their parents told me in the past two days.

“The parents said they really want to meet with the President to share their stories with him. And I asked the President if he wants to meet with the parents of the girls, the President assured me that he would meet with them.“I spoke to the President about the girls who complain that they cannot go to school despite the fact that they want to become doctors, engineers and teachers. But the government is not providing them any facility.“They also need health facility, security, and the government is not doing anything. These are the issues I presented to the President today (Monday).“And the President fortunately promised me that he will do something for these girls and he promised me that the girls under the abduction of Boko Haram will be released as soon as possible.“This is the promise the President made and I am hopeful that these two promises, the return of the girls from Boko Haram and meeting with their parents will be fulfilled and we will see them soon,” Malala said. She added that even though Jonathan made the promises, this does not mean she was going to stop talking.“I will be counting days and I will be looking when those girls are going to be returning home.“I can’t stop this campaign until I see those girls return to their families and continue the agitation.”Malala decried the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, pointing out that “if we leave 10.5 million children illiterate, these children can become terrorists, they can be violated and they can be deprived of their basic human rights, at the end they will not be able to help their country in developing.“So if we want the whole world to be successful, it is important that every child should go to school.

In a statement afterwards by Aso Rock, the President was said to have refuted the notion that the Federal Government was not doing enough to find and rescue the abducted Chibok girls as “very wrong and misplaced”.The statement issued by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said Jonathan explained to Malala that the Federal Government’s efforts were however constrained by the overriding imperative of ensuring that the girls’ lives were not endangered in any rescue attempt.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/07/jonathan-offers-scholarships-chibok-girls/