The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Federal Government of seek­ing to negotiate the timing of the release of the Chibok girls to create a maximum public relations boost for itself, rather than out of a genuine concern for the girls who are now in their sixth month in captivity.
In a statement issued in London yesterday by its Na­tional Publicity Secretary, Al­haji Lai Mohammed, the party said the clearest evidence of the government’s manipula­tion of the girls’ release came during President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.
“Apparently assured, some­how, that the girls were about to be released, the administra­tion had set up an elaborate publicity event in New York, rented the necessary crowd and booked back-to-back in­terviews with the international media to enable the President to luxuriate in the girls’ re­lease. This event was billed for the five-star Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, close to the UN Headquarters.
“Nigerians will remember that on September 23, the military announced on Twit­ter, the imminent release of the girls, only to retract the state­ment shortly thereafter. In the intervening period, thousands of ‘supporters’ of the President had gathered at the Pierre Ho­tel to welcome the President after the release of the girls, while media interviews had been booked for him.
“Such an occasion required prior organisation, and there­fore prior knowledge by both the government and attendees of the timing of any release of the girls. This whole episode was timed to also coincide with President Jonathan’s speech to the UN General As­sembly on the following day – September 24 – and to secure maximum advantage for the government. Somehow, the whole process collapsed like a pack of cards, to the chagrin of those seeking to exploit the innocent girls for political ad­vantage,’’ it said.
APC condemned the “shameless politicisation’ of the plight of the Chibok girls, saying since the incompetence of the government led to the abduction of the girls in the first instance, it must not seek to make political capital out of their release.
“What should be paramount is securing the release of the girls as soon as possible, not securing their release to fit with a schedule that benefits Goodluck Jonathan politically. For the girls, their parents and indeed all good people of Ni­geria, this abduction saga has been a nightmare. It is time for it to end,’’ the party said.

APC accuses FG of playing politics with Chibok girls’ plight