Following
repeated enquiries from the media, we stumbled upon information of an
event tagged “Official Inauguration and Signing of Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) on the Chibok Girls Endowment Project” organised by
the “Peace Corps of Nigeria” and “Africa Support and Empowerment
Initiative”, with Hadiza Buhari-Bello.
We
are shocked, perplexed and completely dumbfounded to see the bold
inscription of our hard-earned name, #BringBackOurGirls, on the event’s
backdrop. We state categorically that we are not party to the said event
and have absolutely no information of its origin. We urge the general
public to disregard attempts at linking our movement to this highly
suspicious event.
After
902 days of painstaking advocacy, it is disheartening and unfortunate
to suddenly see attempts, by external actors, to use it for selfish
purposes. We have carefully built our reputation as a well-organized and
disciplined global movement that is completely self-funded.
The
deliberate decision, to remain funded by sacrificial contributions of
members for our very negligible needs, is the reason we are solely a
Citizens’ Movement, and not an NGO. It will be highly injurious to allow
it be dragged in the mud at this point. We therefore demand an
immediate retraction and unreserved apology from the organizers.
Together
with our lawyers, Femi Falana & Co., we are considering a response
to this attempt to smear our movement. We call on the general public and
law enforcement agencies to be on the look-out for unscrupulous persons
who may already be/are planning similar nefarious acts to deceive the
local and international community.
Signed:
For #BringBackOurGirls
AISHA YESUFU
OBY EZEKWESILI
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