We Will Not Be Intimidated, Ezekwesili Replies FG

US Congressman joins clamour for Chibok girls
Chiemelie Ezeobi
Following the allegations fingering the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group in acts of terror perpetuated by the Boko Haram Sect, the campaigners yesterday said the federal government

was merely trying to distract them from their noble cause.

Led by the former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, the group said they would not be intimidated by the incessant attacks from security agencies.

Ezekwesili said: “What has the federal government not done against us? First, the police took over Unity Fountain and physically assaulted us. They recruited thugs to assault us. They directed Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, to tyrannically ban us and hired Internet thugs to defame us.

“They hired ghost writers supported by some editors to publish fictions about us and had the State Security Service (SSS) spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, spew bile at us.

“In all orchestrated effort to silence us through physical and reputational assault, they helped make our point -that our #ChibokGirls needs a voice. Ogar should hide her face in shame if she has any conscience as a woman.

“These fellows surely make Nigeria look so very unserious. If everything our SSS ‘knows’ about #BringBackOurGirls is cocktail of falsehood, then no wonder our #ChibokGirls are still captives.

“BBOG AbujaFamily that I co-lead has never solicited for fund since we have no need for it. What do T-shirts cost? And our members make them!”

Still on Ogar, Ezekwesilli said: “To think that earlier today, I advised public officials to speak with wisdom. Ogar of SSS responded by moving in the opposite direction.

“How can our own SSS allow itself to be so poorly served by Ogar with those pedestrian lies about #BringBackOurGirls?”
Another BBOG member, Yesuf Aisha said: “That #BringBackOurGirls has a bank account is laughable when it is not even registered. Can’t they bother to get their facts right?

“Marilyn Ogar, your counterparts in those other countries would be busy infiltrating Boko Haram and not a group that meets in the open. The prominent Nigerians that money was solicited from, don’t they have names? Why do you always hide under anonymity of prominent Nigerians?”

Meanwhile, some United States Congress members have joined the clamour for the release of the girls 88 days after they were abducted from their school in Borno State.
During the July Africa Policy Breakfast which treated ‘Instability in Northern Nigeria and the ongoing threat of Boko Haram’, at Cannon Caucus Room (345 Cannon House Office Building), US House of Representatives, Washington DC, the congress members were unequivocal.

Anchored by Karen Bass with co-hosts Senator Chris Coons, Eliot Engel, and Chris Smith, the group were later started a twitter storm, ensuring they tweeted their demands at the appropriate authorities.

In her tweets, Bass who represents the 37th District of California said if the United States could find Osama Bin Laden, then they can find those girls.

Tweeting from @RepKarenBass, she said: “@RepWilson continues to urge that we continue to work to find the kidnapped Nigerian girls. #BringBackOurGirls.”

Frederica Wilson, a congress woman representing the  24th District of Florida, said they would not let the world forget until every girl is found.

Tweeting from @RepWilson, she said, “We can’t allow this story to fade from the headlines. #BringBackOurGirls  #JoinRepWilson

“Educating women and girls is an effective way to reduce poverty. Nigerian girls have high aspirations for their education. @ActionAid #BringBackOurGirls #JoinRepWilson”
Also, another congressman, Emanuel Cleaver II, representing Missouri’s Fifth District tweeted from

@repcleaver and said “#BringBackOurGirls! We are not going away. We will not be silenced until they are rescued.”
They were also joined by Chris Smith representing the fourth Congressional District of New Jersey, who said they must leave no stone unturned in responding to this unconscionable act.