Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday hailed the Federal Government for facilitating Thursday’s safe return of 21 of the over 200 Chibok school girls abducted in April, 2014.
Abdulsalam, who noted that the abduction of the girls remained a “sad episode” in the nation’s history, urged the federal government to persevere in peaceful negotiation with the Boko Haram insurgents for the safe return of others still held in captivity.
The army General said this in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, when he visited the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, at his Ake palace in Abeokuta.
He also urged the President Muhammadu Bubari-led administration to dialogue with the restive Niger-Delta militants, saying dialogue could bring about peaceful resolution of crisis in the oil-rich region.
The ex-Head of State, who had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, was accompanied to the palace by his wife, Justice Fati Abubakar, and their three sons.
Abdulsalam lauded the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for restoring peace to the troubled North East as well as bringing some of the girls back home safely to re-unite with their families.
He expressed the hope that very soon, the remaining abducted girls would be found and rescued safely, even as he congratulated the parents of the returned girls for reuniting with their daughters, after “years of agony.”
“We give glory to God for saving those children and we congratulate each and everyone who is involved in bringing these girls back, and we pray that the rest will come back safely.
“I congratulate the parents who have been in agony for the past one year, plus it is a very sad episode for us all in this country and we pray that never should such a thing happen in our country again.
“Dialogue should not only be employed in the Niger Delta crisis to bring peace but also anywhere there is crisis, anywhere there is disagreement you have to sit down and dialogue and definitely you will achieve result,” Abdulsalam said.
He commended his host, the Alake of Egbaland for the warm reception accorded him and his family.
He recalled that the relationship between him and the Egba Paramount ruler began years back when both were in the army.
His said: “My relationship with the Kabiyesi started a long time ago during his military career. We served together in three places, we served together in Kaduna, Ikeja and Lagos, and all this time we were serving, our relationship continued to grow from strength to strength.”
“When he retired and when I retired, God in His infinite mercy gave him the crown to rule.
“I want to appreciate him for this friendship and since the time he has been the king, I think Abeokuta kingdom has been growing from strength to strength.”
In his earlier remarks, the Alake praised the former Head of State for midwifing the present democratic dispensation in the country.
According to the monrach, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and would continue to improve.
He said: “General Abubakar midwived our present dispensation, our present experiment which has stayed longer than any other experiment in this country, and by the grace of God, we pray that it will continue to improve with time.
“Your desire for a great Nigeria, for a better Nigeria will be fulfilled in your lifetime”.