Source: Thisday
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala friday in Abuja stated that in spite of Nigeria’s desire to host the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF) slated for, Abuja next week, government’s biggest priority was how to free about 200 girls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno State recently by terrorists.
Her statement came on the same day the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charged Nigerians to jettison all parochial interests and join forces with government by exposing terrorist elements, stating that the ordinary citizen has remained victims of insurgent activities in the country.
Fielding questions from journalists at the sidelines of a special dialogue on “Nigeria’s GDP Rebasing: Facts, Fiction, Challenges and Benefits”, organised by the Kukah Centre in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance on the fate of Nigeria’s hosting of the global event, the minister, in an emotion-laden voice, said: “It’s not easy. The news we heard so far, people are asking questions, but it is quite encouraging.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed. I think when we hear some of the security measures that the president is going to announce; it will calm the nerves of those who are proposing to come.
We also did send out a press advisory. But you know, we should focus now on what we need to do to bring the girls back. And also focus more on the families of those who lost people in the bomb blasts in Nyanya.
“These are more important. It is not that the WEF is not important. Of course, it is important. We want the WEF to hold. So much time, efforts and resources have been invested in the preparations.
But getting the abducted girls home is much more important. I can’t imagine what the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and entire families of these girls are going through. It’s unimaginable, hearth-breaking.
The military has been given the marching orders by President Jonathan and I believe they are working hard to rescue them. Their safety is the number one priority,” she said.
Meanwhile, organisers of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA) 2014 have confirmed that the event slated for between May 7 and 9 in Abuja will go ahead as planned next week, following assurances by President Goodluck Ebele on the robustness of the security arrangements that are being put in place for the meeting.