Presidency faults Isha Sesay’s book on Chibok – TheNigerialawyer

The Presidency on Monday faulted the new book, “Beneath The
Tamarind Tree”, written by the ex-CNN star and now a Child Rights
activist, Isha Sesay, on the kidnapping of 270 Chibok school
girls.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and
publicity, Garba Shehu, as a good book but with some
misrepresentations.

He said “The Presidency wishes to seize this moment to reiterate
the government’s unwavering determination to secure the release, by
peace or by force, the remaining 110 Chibok girls, Ms Leah Sharibu
and all other citizens held captive by terrorists.

“It is imperative to do this at this time in view of the doubts
that may possibly arise following the release of a new book,
“Beneath The Tamarind Tree”, written about the kidnapping of 270
Chibok schoolgirls, by Isha Sesay, the ex-CNN star and now a Child
Rights activist.

“This book should serve the useful purpose of spotlighting the
crimes against humanity by Boko Haram terrorists, etching it
permanently on the public mind.

“In addition, the book should rightfully stir up interest and
rally international support for the young girls on the continent
who must stay in school and avoid early pregnancy and marriage, in
order to actualize their God-given potential.

“In her introduction of the book, Isha claims that she wants to
“humanize” the girls, instead of them being seen as “mere
headlines”.

“She acknowledged the release from Boko Haram captivity of more
than 50 percent of the girls under the Buhari administration but
says, very rightfully, that “we must not forget the 112 who are
still missing”. On this, we share a common position.

“In stitching together her compelling portrait of this
unfortunate yet paradoxical incident, Isha, this terrific
journalist risks a negative judgment of history on a book that is a
farrago of misrepresentation.”

He added “It is wrong of the author to say, of the Buhari
administration that “they don’t know who to negotiate with” because
Boko Haram had split into factions.”

This, he said, is a misrepresentation of the position of the
government on split in the leadership of the terrorist group into
two contending factions.

He said “When government spoke on the issue, it was clear that
this split had the effect of making negotiation and reaching an
agreement a more difficult talk.

“Otherwise this country and our international partners are still
engaged through third parties with the terrorists.

“While it is true that the government has no information on
where the captives are held, otherwise it would have seized the
location and recovered the girls using all means at its
disposal.”

He said that it was incorrect to say Government had given up on
the Chibok girls adding, “when the truth is that there is nothing
on the ground to give that impression.’

He disclosed that there is a fully staffed government unit
dealing with the Chibok abductions and its fallout in the Ministry
of Women and Social Development.

“This book asserts that the government and people of Nigeria no
longer cared about the girls because “they are poor…they don’t have
famous names; people just don’t care.” No. Nigerias care, and that
is why the Bring Back Our Girls, BBOG movement was able to generate
“the groundswell of public opinion “as acknowledged by the
author.

“Yes it is true that “the only reason“ the sitting government at
that time “acknowledged fully what had happened” was due the public
outcry but it is again unfair to lump criticism on the Nigerian
Government without differentiating which of the two administrations
that served Nigeria from 2014 to date.

“The Buhari administration came in 2015 with a promise to
recover the stolen girls and a milestone has indeed been achieved
by bringing back and caring for the more than 50 percent of them,
even though the job cannot be said to be complete.

“No one here is giving up and we happy that the individuals,
groups and nations partnering with the administration have
continued to show interest in securing the release of our
daughters.

“We are happy to partner with Isha on her charity that engages
adolescent girls in West Africa (W. E. Can lead) and I write to
invite her to visit Nigeria again for her continuing update on the
Chibok situation and possibilities of partnership with our caring
administration over the future of our youths, particularly of the
girl child.” he said