You won't believe who canceled the scheduled meeting of President GEJ and the parents of #Chibok Girls

According to Daily Independent report, the President failed to hold a scheduled meeting with some of the Chibok girls and their parents at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, following the refusal of the #BringBackOurGirl campaigners, led by Oby Ezekwesili, to release them for the visit.

Pakistani child rights activist, 17-year old Malala Yousafzai, met Jonathan the previous day and requested for the meeting, which he consented to.

The President had summoned the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, and other senior government officials for the 4pm meeting before his aides relayed information to him that the girls had been prevented from making the trip to the Villa.

Malala and members of her foundation were said to have repeatedly pleaded in vain with Ezekwesili to allow the girls and their parents answer the President’s call.

Jonathan consequently issued a statement lamenting that politicians have hijacked the campaign for release of the Chibok girls and were using it for selfish political gains, a situation he described as shameful.

The statement was read out to journalists in Abuja by the President’s Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe.

The statement reads: “It now appears that our fight to get the girls of Chibok back is not only a fight against a terrorist insurgency, but also against a political opposition.

“It is with great regret that I announce the cancellation of the meeting with 12 parents of the abducted Chibock children, as well as five of the brave girls who escaped from the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram.

“I scheduled this meeting, which was to be open to the media for coverage by Nigerian and international press, to listen to their stories and to privately brief the parents and the girls on our efforts to rescue the abducted girls.

“My priority is not politics. My priority is the return of these girls. Unfortunately, political forces within the Nigerian chapter of #BringBackOurGirls have decided to take this opportunity to play politics with the situation and the grief of the parents and the girls. They should be ashamed of their actions.”