The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said the supposed Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram from their school hostel in 2014 is nothing but a facade. He said no girls are missing, noting that it was a ploy by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to discredit and defeat former President Goodluck Jonathan. While speaking in Ado Ekiti at a two-day workshop organized by Women Arise for Change Initiative, Fayose said the Bring Back Our Girls movement, led by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili may be advocating for nothing after all.
“The cries over missing girls were just a political strategy. What could Boko Haram have used to carry those girls? However, if truly missing, they should be recovered. One thing I know is that what is not missing you cannot get,” he said.
Also commenting on the deprived rights of women to hold political positions, the Governor said Nigerian men to stop intimidating the women and allow them enjoy the freedom of association guaranteed to them by the 1999 constitution.
“It pains me that some of the human rights activists had gone since the advent of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. They have lost their voices. Where were they when DSS invaded the Ekiti House of Assembly and arrested a lawmaker and locked him up? They were flouting court’s orders at will and victimising opposition. It is better we collectively speak up now or we are consumed.”
“In some homes, men had cowed their wives and made them subservient. The wives have no rights to claim or defend. But before you can claim anything, the wives or female in general must be up to the task. You have to be intellectually and socially alert. Don’t just, because you are a woman, lose your voice. With this, women shall collectively regain what belongs to them”.