The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the weekend blamed the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan administration for not doing enough to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted over two years ago by Boko Haram terrorists.
The Vice President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, addressed reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, before the beginning of this year’s convention-in-session of the Nigeria Baptist Convention (NBC).
Rev Ayokunle, who is also the president of the NBC, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back the girls.
He said the prayers of the saints kept the girls alive, adding: “There is the part of God and that of man.
“Government has not done enough, especially the Jonathan administration, in rescuing the over 200 Chibok girls. It took the Jonathan government a while before believing that the girls were abducted. This gave the kidnappers the opportunity to carry them far into where it would be difficult to rescue them.
“The security agents could not pursue them because they were ill-equipped. Government should do more to locate these girls. In fact, none of those in government should sleep until they get the girls out of captivity.
“It could have been anybody’s child. To hear that the girls are still alive is a product of answered prayers. It is the efforts of those who know that there is a God that answers prayers. God has given us a ray of hope that the girls are still alive.
“We appreciate government’s efforts in confronting the security challenges, especially the Boko Haram problem.
“We want the government to do more by bringing back those innocent girls, who trusted the government for their protection, but were forcefully taken away about two years ago.
We urge the Federal Government to address epileptic power supply and distribution.
“Electricity supply has become more erratic. We want this to be addressed because power is important for socio-economic development.
“We thank the Federal Government for addressing petrol scarcity. Although there shouldn’t have been fuel scarcity if the leadership had been forthright. We don’t need to import petrol. We should refine crude oil here to create jobs.
“Whatever can be done to ensure the refineries are working should be done.
“Our roads are crying for rehabilitation. Many lives are being lost because of our failure, not because God wants them to die. We want the government to rehabilitate our roads so that there can be smooth transportation of goods.”
