The All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of seeking to negotiate the timing of the release of the Chibok girls to create a maximum public relations boost for itself, rather than out of a genuine concern for the girls who have been in captivity for sixth.

In a statement, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC, said the clearest evidence of the government’s manipulation of the girls’ release came during President Jonathan’s recent visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

It said: “Apparently assured, somehow, that the girls were about to be released, the administration had set up an elaborate publicity event in New York, rented the necessary crowd and booked back-to-back interviews with the international media to enable the President to luxuriate in the girls’ release.

“Nigerians will remember that on September 23, the military announced the imminent release of the girls, only to retract the statement shortly thereafter. In the intervening period, thousands of ‘supporters’ of the President had gathered at the venue to welcome the President.”