By peter uzoma
The menace of the dreaded Boko Haram in some Northern parts of the country is no doubt having severe and disquiet consequences on the life of other Nigerians and activities of state governments.
The recent abduction of female students of a girl’s secondary school in Bornu State has led to the cancellation of the planned Imo carnival scheduled to occur in the state this weekend.
It would be recalled that events for the carnival have geared up with the May 6 Freedom Day Celebration and arrangements on top gear for expected mother-of-all carnivals.
However, the maiden event will not see the light of the day again no thanks to the mournful mood the nation has been thrown into because of the whereabout of the yet to be rescued young schools girls of Government Girls College, Chibouk Bornu State abducted by Boko Haram.
A statement from Government House Owerri, confirmed the development and said that the carnival has been put off to share the grief moments with Nigerians.
In a statement made available to Trumpeta, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on media, Sam Onwemedo said”
“Following the worrying unknown fate of the more than two hundred female students, abducted by the Boko Haram elements in Chibouk, Bornu State, and the general out-cry the ugly development has generated throughout the world, the Imo State government held an emergency Expanded Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 which lingered till late at night with His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha presiding.
And after exhaustively reviewing the mood of the nation and the world at large, at the moment, with regard to the abduction of the innocent girls, the council decided as follows:
That, as a sensitive, responsible, conscious and people oriented government, and in view of the painful mood of the nation and the rest of the world, the state planned carnival, slated to begin on Friday, May 9, 2014 has been postponed indefinitely.
“According to the governor’s spokesman, instead of the Carnival road March programmed for that Friday, the council decided that the first Lady, Her Excellency, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha would lead a road march that would involve female students and all mothers who are teachers in the state school system.
“The council also called on Nigerians irrespective of whatever could be their differences to come together both in words and in actions to see that these innocent children be released by those holding them, to allow them rejoin their families who must have been in pains all these while.
“The council reminded Nigerians that this is not the time to say who was right or who was wrong on the abducted female students.
“The council regretted the inconveniences the postponement of the carnival would cause the expected guests across the globe, and appealed to such guests to bear with the state Government, since they must have also felt the way the people and the government of Imo State had felt, which necessitated the indefinite postponement of the event.
“The council will review the situation as soon as the female students are found, and take the necessary actions on the carnival.
“The council also expressed the confidence that God would ensure the freedom of the students from their abductors without further delay, and that, with the level of concern the” abduction of the female students has generated all over the world, that might be the miracle Nigerians need to have the yoke of Boko Haram off their necks”.
