NIGERIA: Wike Blames Shettima for Chibok Abduction

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The supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has placed the blame for the abduction of the students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State on the state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima.

Wike said the governor allegedly failed to heed to a written advice from his ministry not to conduct Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) in states as a result of the security challenges.

The minister accused the governor of deliberately mis-informing Nigerians and the international community through interviews, instead of owning up and admitting his error for ignoring the written advice of his ministry.

Wike, according to a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant, Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, while addressing the delegates at the First Conference of Certified Librarians in Abuja, added that he wrote letters to the governors of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States on the need for the relocation of students for the SSCE because of the security situation in the three states.

"None of the state governors replied the letter", he said.

The minister, according to the statement, read out the letter dated 12th March, 2014 with reference number HMSE/FME/147/VOL.1/150 and titled: "Security challenges and the conduct of the 2014 WASSCE and SSCE in Borno, Yobe and parts of Adamawa States" to the delegates at the conference.

The letter read: "In view of the current security challenges in the North East states of the country, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the National Examination Council (NECO), have expressed concerns over the safety of their officers who will be deployed to supervise the conduct of the 2014 diet of the examination in your state.

"In response to the concerns, I have directed that the candidates in the Federal Unity Colleges be assembled in the respective state capitals where they are to sit for the examinations in safe locations. You are please enjoined to make contingency arrangements for candidates from public and private schools in your state to sit for the examinations in safe locations."

"Details of your arrangements should be forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Education and the two examination bodies for their information and necessary action" he read.

Wike added that the disclosure was hinged on the need to make the world aware of the true situation and called on Governor not to politicise the abduction of the girls.

"The safety and security of our children must not be politicised under any circumstance. I assure you that the Federal Government and other partners are working round the clock to ensure our girls are released. It is therefore uncharitable for anyone to say that the President is not doing anything about the girls," the minister said. He appealed to all stakeholders to present a united front against those who plan to discourage girl child education.