Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said that President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that the release of the 82 Chibok girls boosted his health.
He said the Buhari made the comment when he recieved the girls in the presidential villa, Sunday night.
Osinbajo spoke during the visit by a delegation from Borno, which came to thank President Buhari for the release of the Chibok girls from Boko Haram captivity.
Osinbajo, however, stated that the present generation of leaders must resolve the humanitarian crises in the North East.
He said that the Federal Government would re-strategise with all the agencies involved in the rehabilitation of victims of insurgency in order to address their most urgent problems.
“Perhaps it might be wise for us to take a look first about how to save the children and to save peoples’ lives and then begin to address questions of infrastructure as we go along.
“But I think it is important that people don’t die while we are thinking, people don’t die while we are planning to ensure that we are able to provide for them.
“So what I will suggest is that we take some time out to look at this, the Borno State government, the Federal Government, and then of cause the PCNI, PINE and all the other government initiatives that are working out there.
“And then plan things better, outline what is priority and then determine what it will cost us and then we can work from there.
“But I think it is important that we take a second look at what we have organized so far so that we will be able to do something more.’’
Osinbajo said that the crises in the North East had grown deeper but noted that it was gratifying that more people were freed from captivity by the armed forces and international partners.
He said the government must determine what needed to be done and do everything that it would take to hold the officials to account for the lives of the children and vulnerable people.
“That in my view is the whole point about leadership, otherwise I don’t see how we can justify our leadership in any other way,’’ he said.
The Acting President acknowledged that a lot of what happened in the release of the Chibok girls were largely because the international community and development partners believed in the integrity of Buhari.
He said the partners “recognize his genuineness, forthrightness and felt the need to help”, adding that they did not have to wonder if there was any other thing else going on.
“We are thankful for that kind of leadership that has showed so much integrity”.
Borno State Kashim Shetima, who led the delegation, said the people of Borno decided to pay a visit rather than showing gratitude in silence.
He said:
“With this very heartwarming breakthrough, we asked ourselves: Do we come here to thank Mr President or do we again express gratitude in silence as we did in October, 2016 after the release of our 21 daughters?
“We are here to Thank Mr President. To thank you, also and to thank all senior aides of the President. To thank our service chiefs, the Director-General of the DSS, to thank our gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces and entire members of Mr President’s compassionate team who worked in leading the Nigerian Government to negotiate from the position of strength and logic which ultimately succeeded in ‘bringing back our precious girls’.
“We are here to also use Your Excellency’s exalted office to convey our depth of gratitude to the Swiss Government; to the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and to every organization, individual, group and institution which made whatever selfless contribution leading to the safe release of our daughters. No amount of words are enough to convey the extent of our very profound gratitude.
“Your Excellency, as I said yesterday in a televised remark, negotiation leading to the freedom of these girls could not have succeeded if Buhari lacked integrity. There is no way international actors who helped in facilitating the negotiation, could have involved themselves if they had doubts about the integrity and sincerity of the President.
”It is also Buhari’s integrity that has made it possible for funds meant for arms to be judiciously utilized in making our gallant armed forces far more equipped than they ever were and it is his integrity that has made countries in Africa, Europe and the United States to wholeheartedly support Nigeria in the ongoing, and so far successful fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.
”When President Buhari was going round countries organizing regional and global cooperation, critics accused him of flying around the world. He inherited a very serious problem that Nigeria could not solve alone. And to make matters worst, he inherited a country with a terribly battered foreign image. He needed to first win the trust and confidence of allies so he could attract support for Nigeria”
The Governor also paid tribute to Osinbajo for his compassion in supporting Borno since 2015,
particularly with regards to the management of humanitarian crisis and developing the Buhari plan for the reconstruction and economic development of the northeast which the Vice President’s office coordinates.
