By Muyiwa Adetiba
I stumbled across an advert on NTA last Sunday with the theme:‘They Lied To The World’. It was centred on the campaign for the release of the Chibok girls who were captured some six months ago.

The leaders of the ‘Bring back our girls ‘ (BBOG) campaign had told as many people as cared to listen that they had no political agenda, that they had no political affiliation and that whatever issues—if they had any—with the Jonathan administration, could wait until the young girls were brought home alive.

In other words, their primary issue, their overriding concern, was the release of those girls who were daughters of Nigerians and Nigeria. For this, they had sacrificed time, money and convenience.

File photo strategizing: The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Kenneth Minima (left); his Air Force counterpart, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (middle) and General Officer Commanding 3rd Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen John Zaruwa, aboard a Nigerian Air Force plane strategising with the aid of maps in the ongoing counter-terrorist operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, during a visit to the area, weekend.

For this, they had been roughened up by security agencies and ‘counter campaigners’. For this, they had suffered indignity and abuse from government apologists and even some ordinary folks who felt ‘them own too much’. Their steadfastness has amazed me and indeed many Nigerians and foreigners who believe Nigerians love their comfort too much to sustain any inconvenient campaign.

It is therefore no surprise that the Jonathan administration and some voluble PDP leaders believe that the campaigners are dancing to the tune of some hidden orchestra; that they are puppets in the hands of a deft puppeteer.

Politicians who are used to renting crowds; politicians who are not used to not doing something for nothing; politicians who see personal opportunities for enrichment in every unfortunate situation, cannot believe that any campaign can be altruistic. Those who have made tons of money from the five-year war against Boko Haram cannot believe in a labour of love.

That is why at every turn, despite the repeated denials of the campaign leadership, Aso Rock apologists accuse the campaigners of a hidden agenda.

Last week, because success has many fathers, and politicians will be politicians, another set of politicians claimed that some of the leaders of BBOG came from their party. Hence the hastily put together advert which ran on NTA last Sunday. BBOG has again denied any political leaning not to talk of political manipulation. But that does not cut any ice with those who are prepared to tar the campaigners with any dirty brush.

But to any rational observer, the fact that APC, or a chieftain in APC claimed that the leadership of BBOG is from their stock does not necessarily make it so.  After all, does Jonathan claiming credit for the containment of Ebola necessarily make it a fact?

The 200 million Naira given the Lagos State Government was too little, too late and if LAGS had waited for the money before doing anything, the Ebola story could have been different. But this is not to say that the FG did not mean well. It did not mean that the FG did not play a part in the curtailment of Ebola or deserve some credit.

The same thing could be said of the BBOG campaign. APC might have meant well; participated even in some of the rallies. It probably gave some logistic support. But did it seize the initiative? Or did it in fact initiate the campaign? I doubt it very much. In any case what does it matter who seized the initiative. PDP could have seized the initiative if it was smart and forward looking enough. The Chibok girls are not politicians. They are young girls who became pawns in a deadly chess game.

They are daughters just like my daughter; just like Jonathan’s daughter. But PDP chose to play the ostrich. It was first in denial; then it started the blame game. Even a sympathy visit could not be arranged. I believe it is mischievous to ascribe political motives to the BBOG campaign. I believe it is indecent to call the campaign leadership liars.

This campaign started from outrage in the silence and seeming indifference of the government. It grew globally and enlisted the support of some of the world’s most visible personalities. Unfortunately, it also exposed our under belly as a nation steeped in corruption and revealed our disdain for the poor and defenceless. The Chibok saga showed the world how we fumble and wobble in our running of the country.

The Boko Haram saga is a sad chapter in the history of Nigeria. But it could have happened under any government. But the Chibok episode could have been better handled. This government deserves no kudos for the way it has handled the situation. Even if the girls were released today, it would have been six months too late.

Meanwhile, the advert boys have brought to the front burner, an issue they will do well to side step. Until they can prove that the BBOG lied to the world, they should shut up. And the only lie I would accept is if the girls were not abducted.

BBOG is a child of necessity. It would not have been born if the government had acted swiftly; if it had been alive to its responsibilities. BBOG leaders are heroes, not villains.

THIS LIFE….ONLY ON A CANVAS

‘Only on a canvas’ is a work of fiction that was the runner-up in 2012 LNG literary award. It was written by a man whose talent and versatility had held me spell bound for years. It was written by Architect Sola Olugbesan whose body was committed to mother earth three weeks ago. Sola Olugbesan studied architecture at Unilag but he practiced many trades. He was a carpenter, an engineer, a welder and a musician. His company, the ‘House of Design’ was apt because he designed many things. He was an artiste.

He was a scientist. He set up one of the earliest digital studios where people like Bisade Ologunde (Lagbaja) incubated. Some of his enduring musical works include ‘Me I like my country’…’MKO is our man o’ ….’Ist Bank na baba’. Yet despite his many achievements, he was soft spoken with a somewhat deprecating sense of humour that put you at ease. His death has once again set me thinking of this life we slave and struggle over.

Naked we were born and naked we would go—except for works which could outlive us. Fortunately, Sola Olugbesan- Sholay—left several behind. He was 61.