Buhari Appoints #BringBackOurGirls Founder As Member Of His Transition Committee

By Chris Nomjov

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has drafted Hadiza Bala Usman, founder of the #BringBackOurGirls crusade, into his Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee. Her appointment is sure to raise eyebrows, and would be seen my many, as some sort of ‘reward’ for her relentless call for the incumbent government of President Jonathan to fast track the release of the abducted Chibok girls. 

The initiator of the popular #BringBackOurGirls campaign for the release of the abducted over 200 Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State, Hadiza Bala Usman, has activism running in her veins. Hadiza was born to the fiery late historian and university teacher, Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman of the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.

It will be recalled that in 2014, Chief Audu Ogbeh, an APC Chieftain openly acknowledged the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as an offshoot of the All Progressive Congress (APC), a statement for which he later apologised after massive public criticism and outrage.

The inauguration committee is co-chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; and a former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timpre Sylva.

Members from the outgoing government include the Chief of Defence?, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh; Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed; and Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe.

Also part of the government team are Minister of ?Aviation, Osita Chidoka; Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke; and Akon Ayakenyi, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Akon Ayakenyi; as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali;

Other are Minister of Interior, Abba Morocco; he representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bello Fadile; the Inspector-General of Police; Minister of State Defence, Col. Austin Akobundu (retd.); Commander Brigades of Guards, Brig. Gen. A. B. Omozoje and Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Permanent Secretary, Presidency (Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation).

On the other side, members of incoming government are Timipre Sylva, (co-chairman), Chief Pius Akinyelure, Mrs. Abike Dabiri Erewa, Ms. Sharon Ikeazor, ?Prof. Tony Anwuka, Alhaji Kawy Baraje, Sen John Shagaya (rtd), Hadiza Bala Usman (#BringBackOurGirls), Babagana Kingibe, Ismaila Isa Tuntua, Senator Binta Masi Garba, Mr. Babachir Lawal and Mr. Samson Osagie.

?The committee has the mandate to draw up programs of activities for the inauguration ceremony; arrange invitations and accommodation for foreign and local dignitaries; organize approved program of activities; draw up budget? for the program of activities and coopt into sub-committees, persons that may be necessary to assist in the discharge of activities.