Military angry with Ezekwesili

Former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili has come under attack from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) for her Chibok girls campaign.

The girls were abducted from the Chibok Secondary School in Borno State more than one year ago. The 219 girls have not been seen since then.

Dr Ezekwesili is a key member of the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group that has been campaigning for the girls’ release.

But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has taken exception to the campaign.

Defence spokesman Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a letter to the former minister – copies were sent to other coordinators of the BBOG group, including Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman and Mrs Bukky Sonibare – accused Mrs Ezekwesili of monitoring a hate campaign.

“Indeed, there is still room for more merciful and robust engagement or interface between you and the government and security agencies in the drive to secure the return of our girls. Enough of undue hate campaign and antagonism,” he wrote.

The DHQ denied that the military was engaged in propaganda.

Gen. Olukolade said: “I have followed your activities with due interest.  I personally have nothing against your organisation or its advocacy concerning efforts to recover our girls from captivity of terrorists.  I believe that someday, both your efforts and that of the Nigerian military will be duly understood and appreciated.