"If they had come to the first lady, she would have led that protest"---Onyeka Owenu defends the First Lady

Onyeka Owenu ,the Director General of National Centre For Women Development was on Channels TV this morning to speak on the abducted girls..Many feel she was defending the government and first lady and avoiding the truth. Below are some parts of the interview

"When it started, this government did not come out to really speak about the efforts it was making because that will be giving out too much to the enemy.Once the first lady gathered women together, it was out of that frustration of not having enough information at that point.Who are these girls?They must have names.They registered for WAEC,they filled forms .Where are the parents.Not just to go to the street to demonstrate.Come together lets's find solutions and ask questions.The principal,where were you when this
happened?You were not there.Was there any supervision for the girls?No head mistress, No dorm mistress.How come these girls were left there in a situation where there was no light, no security .How come these girls were allowed to spend time in that hostel.There were also boys registered for the exam.Where were the boys?They were at home.The agencies were saying they didn't know the girls were there as borders. So madam principal at what point did you realise something was going on in your domain and why wait till the next day.

Madam principal, do you have the list?No it is my hotel.When you get it, there are names of people who are 60 years old on that list.These are the questions we need to be asking ."
Our government really has to investigate thoroughly and find out where there was a disconnect "

We have to ask the state government, Local government .At what point did you find out about this movement and who did you contact.The lorries were parked a kilometre and the half away so they walked for a long distance.So who saw them?What did you do?Those are questions we need to be asking ".This is going to expose alot of things and mistakes were made along the line and those mistakes some may have been made by the FG but certainly by the local and state government. So instead of pointing fingers, lets put heads together ..

On why the first lady reacted on video 

"If they had come to the first lady, she would have led that protest .That was how she was.She was so concerned.We hadn't slept.She was asking questions like what is going on.
Its quite natural that without the provision of information, some people would start to wonder what is going on.What she did was to ask the questions.First of all she was asking about the welfare of the girls who escaped.You cant work with someone who is not available for you to work with

Why she waited for long to react

Because her work is done behind the scenes.She had actually been rallying and asking those questions way before the protests took place.The first lady had organized through her office as the president of the African First Ladies Peace Mission a peace concert for the youth.I'm not sure you have a copy of the peace song i wrote.Its on the issue of peace.These were not the first group of girls to be abducted.

Legality of the first lady coming into security matters

I am not her to speak for the FG.Is it when they come into the studio that we know they are asking .The first lady was prompted to come out and bring women together because the agitation particularly with the protests had started.When you have a situation where the people are just agitated, you have to just come out openly.That is what government should do and that is what they have done.
I believe her main concern right now is the welfare of those girls that escaped, welfare of their parents and the welfare of the women of that region who have been badly brutalized.No body was summoned,people were invited and they voluntarily came .

Do you believe her?