There was never planned trip to Chibok - Presidency

By Ehi Ekhator

The Presidency has denied the speculation that President Goodluck Jonathan will visit Chibok, Borno State, on Friday (today).

Earlier yesterday, the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Reuben Abati issued a statement saying the President will be going to France to discuss with authorities on how to join effort in combating terrorism in Nigeria.

A source said “If the president is going to Chibok, it will not be advertised in the media,”

the source added. “He would have left by the time you hear.” The official said it would be “foolhardy” to expect the president to tell the world he was on his way to Chibok.

“That will just give Boko Haram a great opportunity to organise an embarrassment of international proportions for the president, just to prove a point. You don’t hear President Obama is going to see American troops in Afghanistan or Iraq until he has arrived and departed,” the source explained. No country will put the president in harm’s way, the official said.

The Presidential spokesperson has issued a statement asking the general public to ignore the rumour, denying that the President will held to France instead of the widespread speculation of his visit to Chibok.

He said “Every trip by the President is usually pre-announced. The Presidency did not at any time announce a trip to Chibok today. Ignore rumours. 

”The statement issued by my office yesterday indicated very clearly that the President is scheduled to travel to Paris today. It is therefore wrong and malicious to allege that a non-existent trip has been cancelled”.

The President has been widely criticize for not visiting Chibok since the abduction of the students of Government Secondary School from their hostels.

There was never planned trip to Chibok - Presidency