Finally, Chibok parents meet Jonathan on Tuesday

After a botched attempt by the presidency to stage a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and some parents of girls that escaped from Boko Haram, both parties will now sit down to talk next week Tuesday.

National chairman of the community, Dr Pogu Bitrus, confirmed this on Thursday, saying the community intends to use the opportunity the meeting to present at least six specific demands.

Bitrus confirmed receiving a letter from the presidency requesting a meeting with the Chibok parents and the girls who escaped from Boko Haram detention.

He said the letter was sent on Wednesday, and that the community would hold a meeting on Thursday to finalise their plans ahead of next week’s interaction with the president.

According to him, some of the demands to be made at the meeting are:

“That the federal government goes into immediate negotiation with the Boko Haram sect with a view to securing the safe release of the girls.

“Immediate establishment of a rehabilitation centre at Chibok to address psychological, medical and traumatic effects of the abduction on parents, escaped and yet-to-be rescued girls and the Chibok community.

“Reconstruction of Government Secondary school, Chibok, and the building of another secondary school within the Chibok community, considering the huge number of over-500 students in one class.

“Stationing of an army battalion at Chibok town so as to provide the necessary security to protect the Chibok nation and its environs.

“Construction of the 40km Mbalala-Chibok-Damboa federal road, which has been on the drawing board for over 20 years, to enhance immediate and fast response to emergency occurrences.

“Provision of relief materials to the suffering people of Chibok and those who relocated to Chibok town from adjoining villages and local governments.”

President Jonathan and parents of five abducted girls who escaped from Boko Haram were to meet on Wednesday at the instance of visiting Pakistani girl-child education advocate, Malala Yousafzai.

But the Chibok parents shunned the meeting, saying that although they were in Abuja, they hadn’t come to meet with the president.