The credibility of the First Family is under threat following the accusation from the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group that Hadiza Buhari-Bello, a daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter is using their brand name to raise funds for Chibok girls.
The group has released a statement on Monday, October 16, that was signed by its leaders, Aisha Yesufu and Oby Ezekwesili, and reads in part:
“Following repeated enquiries from the media, we stumbled upon information of an event tagged ‘Official Inauguration and Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Chibok Girls Endowment Project’ organised by the ‘Peace Corps of Nigeria’ and ‘Africa Support and Empowerment Initiative,’ with Hadiza Buhari-Bello.”
“We are shocked, perplexed and completely dumbfounded to see the bold inscription of our hard-earned name, #BringBackOurGirls, on the event’s backdrop. We state categorically that we are not party to the said event and have absolutely no information of its origin.”
“We urge the general public to disregard attempts at linking our movement to this highly suspicious event. After 902 days of painstaking advocacy, it is disheartening and unfortunate to suddenly see attempts, by external actors, to use it for selfish purposes.”
“We have carefully built our reputation as a well-organised and disciplined global movement that is completely self-funded. The deliberate decision, to remain funded by sacrificial contributions of members for our very negligible needs, is the reason we are solely a Citizens’ Movement, and not an NGO.”
“It will be highly injurious to allow it be dragged in the mud at this point. We therefore demand an immediate retraction and unreserved apology from the organisers. Together with our lawyers, Femi Falana & Co., we are considering a response to this attempt to smear our movement.”
“We call on the general public and law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for unscrupulous persons who may already be/are planning similar nefarious acts to deceive the local and international community.”
Recall that the group has been at the fore-front of the campaign for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect in Chibok, Borno state, in 2014.
Last week the country was thrown into excitement following the release of 21 of the Chibok girls. Boko Haram terrorists have subsequently tabled two conditions to the Federal Government before they can release 83 more Chibok girls.