Kidnapped Schoolgirls Here’s a recap of the war between Buhari and Jonathan

President Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan love to have a go at the other occasionally and so, here’s another one. There’s been an exchange of bitter words between Jonathan and Buhari over abducted schoolgirls.

The schoolgirls of Chibok were kidnapped on April 14, 2014 while the schoolgirls of Dapchi were kidnapped on February 19, 2018.

The Chibok abduction occurred on Jonathan’s watch. The Dapchi abduction happened on Buhari’s watch.

play Goodluck Jonathan handed over the reins to Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 (Guardian)

When Buhari visited Dapchi this week, he said his administration has done better than Jonathan’s in terms of rescuing abducted schoolgirls.

Here is what Buhari said:

“The Federal Government’s response to the unfortunate abduction of the schoolgirls is a clear departure from the insensitivity of the past administration which looked the other way while the Chibok girls were taken away in 2014 and held in captivity for over three years.

“Due to our commitment, over 100 Chibok girls have been rescued and reunited with their families, sent back to school and empowered with requisite skills”.

Here was Jonathan’s response

“My attention has been drawn to comments by President Muhammadu Buhari alleging that he handled the Dapchi girls kidnapping better than former President Jonathan handled the Chibok girls kidnapping.

“When the Chibok girls were kidnapped, the Jonathan administration did not “look the other way” as President Buhari claims and historical records prove this.

“The Chibok girls were kidnapped on April 14, 2014. Exactly  three days later, on April 17, 2014, then President Goodluck Jonathan called an emergency National Security Council meeting at Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

play Jonathan photographed dancing at a political rally just days after Chibok girls were kidnapped (Information Nigeria)

“Is this the act of an administration or a President that looked away?

“Now more than two weeks after the Dapchi girls were kidnapped, has President Buhari held a National Security Council meeting to address the situation? No, he has not. As a matter of fact, to prove to Nigerians how inept he is, the President cancelled the Federal Executive Council meeting that was to hold after the Dapchi girls were kidnapped because of a conference he had to attend.

“Between a President who calls an emergency meeting after Chibok and a President who canceled an important meeting so he could attend an economic conference, who can be described as looking the other way?

play Buhari shows up a wedding in Kano days after Dapchi kidnap (PulseTV)

“Again, the President was not right when he said his administration “rescued” 100 Chibok girls. The Chibok girls were not rescued. As a matter of fact, they were released by Boko Haram after the alleged payment of huge ransoms and freedom of captured Boko Haram commanders by the Buhari administration”.

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Dear reader, what’s your take? Who has handled the abduction of schoolgirls better?