The launch of Chude Jideonwo’s book, ‘Are We The Turning Point Generation?’ held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island on Sunday night, turned into a protest ground, as several Nollywood celebrities and comedians, supported by former World Bank Vice-President, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, carried lettered cards, which formed the words, “Bring back our girls now and alive.”
The celebrities held lighted candles and kept chanting, “Bring back our girls now and alive.”
Sighted in their midst were Julius Agwu, Monalisa Chinda, Funmi Iyanda, Derele Edun, Mo Abu, ace comedian Aliababa, Seyi Law, among others.
After the procession, Nigerians were urged to wear red clothes on Children’s Day, in tune with the demand for rescue and return of the over 200 girls who were kidnapped from their school by Boko Haram members since April.
Mr. Rasheed Gbadamosi, former chairman Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), economist, industrialist, playwright and former minister who was at the book launch, described the insurgency in the country as horrible. He said he was in his 70’s and did not want to die with the knowledge that people were being murdered willfully.
His words: “I feel sorry for all the going on in the country today. It’s our young people who are now responsible in figuring out how to run the country. Everybody can’t be president and minister. The reaction is ‘Bring Back Our Girls.’ How can we degenerate to the extent of kidnapping young girls? The worst is the consistent murders! I grew up with liberal love for my fellow Nigerians. We bore no ill-feelings for anybody. Now people are being murdered every day. I’m despondent. The youths should not accept this type of horror! We must not accept this horror.”
Femi Falana (SAN), who was at the event, spoke about the Chibok girls and the foreign intervention. Fielding question why the girls had not been rescued as anticipated by Nigerians, Falana said: “The foreign forces had not been able to locate these girls. I was not one of those Nigerian who welcomed the intervention of the foreign forces. I believe very strongly, that if our armed forces and the police are well equipped and well trained, they can fight the war on terror successfully. We don’t need foreign intervention.”
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