My Going to Chibok Won’t Solve the Problem - President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said his physical presence in Chibok, Borno State where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted on April 14 would not solve the problem. Jonathan spoke while answering a question during a press conference held to announce the conclusions of a regional summit on security in Nigeria held in Paris, France.

According to him, since the abducted girls were not being held in the school, the major challenge before him and his government now is to locate and rescue them.

“These girls are not held in Chibok. Sometime, people want the President to go to Chibok. If the President goes to Chibok today, it does not solve any problem. The problem facing the President and indeed the Nigerian government is how to get these girls from wherever they are.”

The President had not visited the community since the incident happened over a month ago. Although he was earlier scheduled to visit the school on Friday, the trip was called off later in what many people believed could have been because of security reasons. Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, however said Jonathan was never scheduled to visit the town, describing the reports as malicious.

The President also noted that chiefs have already visited the area. He also said the allegation of misappropriation of funds by the military was exaggerated but conceded that administrative lapses may have a part to play in the inadequate funding of the war against terror.