US Ambassador to the UN’s engagement with BBOG

 
20 April 2016
As earlier announced, the US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power earlier today engaged with our movement at Unity Fountain Abuja. It was indeed more of a ‘homecoming’ than a ‘visit’, as the ambassador has been a well-known advocate for humane causes, and an outspoken voice for our Chibok girls.

She arrived along with her entourage at 5.39 pm, and was warmly received. Three leaders of our movement spoke on our behalf. We thanked her for coming, as the global support we receive is very important to our movement.
The three key points of our advocacy asks were, that:
i. our Chibok girls be deemed as global citizens, children of the world; their rescue and safe return accorded top priority as would if they were American citizens;
ii. our President, Muhammadu Buhari during our last meeting with him had said the country lacks ‘credible intelligence’ to locate our girls’ whereabouts.
Our request therefore is for the United States along with other allies in coalition help with the intelligence to locate our girls and bring them home;
iii. take our message to the world.
The ambassador in response said that her coming today was an act of solidarity. As a human being, and as a parent she could only imagine the agony. She said speaking on behalf of all the concerned people all over the world who are motivated by our movement; ‘the world knows of your resilience, consistency, determination, and your “stubbornness”. For standing for humanity, I thank you all’, she said.

She said that she will take our message back to the US, and to the world. And, as President Obama’s personal envoy, she assured us that our girls are always top priority, and are never forgotten. Together we all will join hands to bring back our girls and all other citizens in captivity.
Ambassador Power confirmed that she had been to Cameroon, and Chad, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) headquarters, and has seen better coordination. Presently, there is renewed political will, and a willing partner in working towards rescuing our girls and ending the insurgency; and this makes a lot of difference.
After her remarks she was worn the #BringBackOurGirls pin-up badge as a ‘global ambassador’ of our Chibok girls, and given three others for the US president, vice president, and secretary of state. After this she took her leave at 5.54 pm for another engagement.
Thank you.
Sesugh Akume
#BringBackOurGirls Spokesperson