Audu Ogbeh Apologizes To #BringBackOurGirls Leadership Over Statement

Former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Audu Ogbeh, has apologised to the #Bring Back Our Girls Group (#BBOG) for comments he made about it.

Ogbeh, had, while speaking at General Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential declaration, in Abuja, last week, said the #BBOG was led by members of the APC, while commending the campaigners for sustaining global attention on the missing Chibok girls.

He had stated: “We send our greetings to the Chibok parents. We believe that one day they will be reunited with their children. We commend the Bring Back Our Girls movement led by members of our party for their commitment. They remain the only living witnesses that Nigeria still has a conscience.”

Ogbeh’s speech had received condemnations, especially from members of the group.  Reacting to the comments, former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, a leader of the group, said in Twitter message: “I take very strong exception to what is being credited to Mr. Audu Ogbeh of APC. Another tragic low in making #ChibokGirls political pawns.

“I am neither covertly or overtly a member of the APC, PDP or any other party. It is false and wrong to say @BBOG_Nigeria is led by members of the APC.”

Also, the Presidency said Ogbeh’s comments confirmed its suspicion that #BringBackOurGirls campaigners were working for the opposition party.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had stated that the roles played by an activist, Dino Melaye, and the presence of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign initiator, Hadiza Bala Usman, at Buhari’s declaration, were proofs of their agenda to politicise the abduction of the more than 200 Chibok girls.

He wrote: “Our longstanding view of BBOG movement’s hidden agenda to unseat the Jonathan administration received full justification yesterday (on Wednesday.) Roles played by Dino Melaye and the presence of BBOG’s initiator, Hadiza Bala Usman at Buhari’s declaration is proof of the true aim of politicising the agony of the Chibok girls and their families. This is now fully apparent, the true agenda and prime movers of BBOG movement.”

Apparently regretting his comments, Ogbeh, in a letter to the group, dated October 20, 2014 said he was wrong to have said that #BBOG was APC members.

His letter reads: “I feel obliged to let you know that my statement at our function last week was not intended to paint your group as an APC sub-group. This is because. From what we now know less than two per cent of the group are our party members, but members we valued highly. The rest of you are not and may not even belong to any political association whatsoever. This is not to say that you have no right to be if you choose to.

“If my  statement caused you discomfort, I do apologies, but reiterate that I have nothing but respect and admiration for you for keeping a six-month vigil and telling the world that the Nigerian conscience is not entirely dead. The world is watching us and making judgment.”