FG MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ON BOKO HARAM – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the federal government to stop making contradictory statements and speak with one voice on issues concerning the ongoing efforts to find and rescue the schools girls abducted by Boko Haram. In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the conflicting statements credited to top government officials over the conditions given by Boko Haram for releasing the girls were totally unwarranted and could send the wrong signal to the insurgents and hinder efforts to ensure the safe return of the girls. It said the government must designate a spokesman to be responsible for daily relaying to the public relevant information concerning the search for the missing girls, instead of allowing a cacophony of voices on the issue. “Information management is key if the government itself is not to jeopardize ongoing international efforts to find and rescue the girls, and the government must move fast to keep the nation informed through an established channel, in line with global best practices under such circumstances,’’ APC said. The party said while Interior Minister Abba Moro and Senate President David Mark have said the government would not negotiate the release of the girls, Information Minister Labaran Maku, Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mike Omeri and Special Duties Minister Taminu Turaki have hinted that the FG will do whatever it takes to free the girls, meaning that all options are on the table. The party said this is even as President Goodluck Jonathan is widely quoted in newspapers as saying the government would not release the incarcerated Boko Haram members in exchange for the girls.