NIGERIANS had a sober May Day yesterday – no thanks to the abduction of 234 school girls in Borno State.
The Government Secondary School, Chibok pupils were snatched away from their hostels on April 15 by Boko Haram gunmen. They are yet to be found.
May Day rallies became a platform for protests over the abduction.
There were protests in Lagos, Kano, Ilorin and Maiduguri.
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said he was confident that with God, the girls would soon reunite with their parents.
He said his administration would do everything possible to get the girls back home.
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and some women, led by Prof. Hauwa Biu, stormed the Borno State Government House to protest the abduction.
Shettima told them that “people are fasting”, adding: “God is not a God of injustice; He is just and I know we shall surely get them back for you at the fullness of time and through his judgement.” The women, all tears, were in the company of the labour leaders at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Said the Governor: “I assure you that the best is yet to come on this matter and my heart goes out to all the parents who have children in the hands of those criminals inside the forest.”
Before the workers left for the long trek to the Government House, they prayed for the abducted girls. A minute silence was observed for all those who died in the lingering insurgency.
NLC Chairman Titus Abana addressed the workers, assuring them that special letters would be presented to the governor for President Goodluck Jonathan.
In Lagos, the Change Movement Nigeria, led by Oludamilola Adegoke signed a petition they wanted Governor Babatunde Fashola to pass on to Dr. Jonathan. They had defied tear gas canisters thrown by riot policemen who said they had no permit to protest at the CMS bus stop before making their way to Onikan Stadium. After camping outside the stadium for some hours with their placards, singing and obstructing vehicular traffic, the group made its way into the stadium to hand over the document to the governor.
In the letter signed by Adegoke, the group demanded “an end to government docility and helplessness in the face of brutal killings, kidnap and abduction of Nigerians”; “immediate rescue of the kidnapped girls and improved security”, among others.
Afro beat musician Seun Kuti was called for urgent action in search of the Chibok girls when the power was cut off.
“We want our girls back. We are all one Nigeria; those girls are part of us. Government needs to take action and stop giving condolence messages. They are our future mothers,” he said.
In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, students and members of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSO) stormed the Metropolitan Square venue of the Workers’ Day celebration in protest against the “general insecurity in Nigeria”.
The NLC described the rising insecurity as “worrisome”.
The placard carrying protesters expressed concern over the kidnapped of school girls.
Some of the placards read: “Where are our sisters? “Where are the Chibok girls? Please find our daughters.” “Masses are dying at the expense of the few.” “If one of us is unsafe none of use is safe.” “Mr. President, where is our $20 billion?” “President Jonathan, please stop playing with our lives.”
The CCSO presented its letter of protest to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for transmission to Jonathan.
Parts of the letter, signed by Kwara CCSO chair and secretary, Shuaib Fari and Basambo Abubakar, read: “Mr. President, the coalition of civil society in Kwara State notes with dismay the current state of the nation, especially the increase rate of insurgencies in some parts of the country and other insecurity situations in the country at large.
“It is on the basis of this development that the youths, students and other civil society organisations in the state use the occasion of the 2014 workers day to address these critical issues affecting the peace and progress of our dear country.
“The coalition expresses concern over the kidnapping of school girls in Borno State and why government has not sufficiently and tactically carried out action that will lead to their rescue. Our dear president, the first duty of a leader is to have a heart for the people; to treasure his people, love them and have a desire to give them his best all the time.
“Saving our girls right now and stabilising the security condition of this country should be of utmost priority that goes beyond giving rooms for distraction from political opponents or giving more attention to the pursuit of personal aspiration.”
The group equally requested for the president’s intervention in the face-off between Federal Government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and their colleges of education counterparts.
It said: “He who closes the gates of schools opens the gates of hell, courage, hooliganism, thuggery and violence. Mr. President should not be watching and seeing lives of his youth ruined.”
Kwara State NLC Chairman Farouk Akanbi said: “Suicide bombing in thickly populated places, guerrilla warfare and massacre of communities, farmers and herdsmen clashes, slaughtering of innocent school pupils, abduction of over 200 school girls, armed robbery, kidnap for ransom, rape of under-aged girls, ritual killings call for serious concern. It appears neither solution nor respite is in sight.”
Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said now is the time for Nigerians, especially political leaders, to bury their differences and work collectively to ensure that the 234 girls are found and returned to their parents.
Kwankwaso said: “I believe this is the time to call on all of us to support Nigeria. This is the time to bury all our differences, especially those that are being created by politicians, to come and support this country. These young girls that were being abducted are not only Muslims or only Christians. And this is the time for all of us also, to close ranks and ensure that these young girls are identified and returned to their parents and to the school.”
The governor spoke when he received members of the Kano State Civil Society Forum who protested to the Government House over the girls’ abduction.
“I am sure the message, especially in the last few days, is very clear to the leadership in Abuja (Presidency). May be they do not understand the gravity of the issue. People are beginning to understand the calamity that has befallen our country, Nigeria. It is our collective responsibility to check the trend, to stop it and ensure that every child of school age goes to school without any fear,” Kwankwaso stated.
“We are as concerned and as worried as you are, we feel very sad as parents, we feel as sad as members of the (Chibok) community and we feel very sad as leaders of this state and, by extension, leaders in the country,” he added.
The governor stressed that it is the responsibility of any government protect lives and properties, to ensure freedom of speech and freedom of movement, adding that his administration, would continue to guaranty citizens’ rights within its limit.
Governor Kwankwaso, who expressed grief over the “unfortunate” incident, told the civil society groups that their letter would be delivered to the President within 24 hours.
Mr. A. B. Mahmoud (SAN), who led the group, said that if Nigeria cannot address the case of the abducted girls, it should seek assistance from other countries. He described the abduction as a national disaster. He expressed hope that the authorities concerned would be providing accurate information to Nigerians on the matter until the kidnapped girls are rescued.
The chairman of the Forum, Malam Bala Abdullahi, and a mother,Mrs. Amina Hanga, lamented the abduction.
