Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has claimed that the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014 did not happen.
According to Punch, Fayose said this while declaring open a two-day workshop organised by Women Arise for Change – a non-governmental organisation.
The governor was said to have described reports on the abduction as a ploy to unseat former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“I don’t think any of these girls is missing; it is a political strategy. Who is fooling who? If you wanted to use it to remove some people, you have succeeded already,” he was quoted as saying.
“I don’t know if there are missing girls but no indication has shown that. It is a political strategy, because I don’t think any girl is missing. If they are missing, let them find them.”
Fayose expressed concern that human rights groups have been quiet since President Muhammadu Buhari came on board. He also accused the federal government of using security agencies to harass him and his loyalists.
“I’m concerned about the activities of human rights groups. Today the government of the day is obeying court order of their choice, while human rights are not respected,” he said.
“We must talk about government providing cover for criminals. You are now using that person to harass innocent person. You will never have peace when you hide justice.
“Police came into town yesterday (Tuesday) to arrest political opponents. If you like, demonise me, I will demonise you. I don’t need the police and the SSS to walk in my state. It is when you are not popular that you walk with police.
“Any government that rises against me, that government will come down. I’m Peter the rock. By engaging me, you make me more popular and relevant and then court sympathy. I’m one person that is going places. That is why all these challenges are against me.”
THE CABLE
