The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Hadiza Bala Usman has condemned insinuations that her appointment as the first female Managing Director of the agency was a reward for her role in the "bring back our girls" campaign.
The Bring Back Our Girls group was established against the backdrop of the abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok town, Maiduguri in Borno State about two years ago by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group.
Hadiza who spoke at a press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers State recently corrected that her political background and past working experiences at the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) her job at the Federal Capital Territory has brought her thus far.
She corrected that the bring back our girls movement is not only about the Chibok girls that were abducted two years ago, but that the movement is to fight for the release of everyone in captivity of the Boko Haram.
"My position here has nothing to do with reward for bring back our girls; some of you are familiar with what I have done before. I have worked at the BPE, I have worked at FCT, I am also a member of APC, I was in CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) which was part of the merger. I was the administrative secretary of the Presidential campaign council. So I am not a stranger to politics" she said.
Hadiza vowed to continue wearing her badge for the ‘bring back our girls’ campaign and that she would not allow her new position as NPA boss to stop her from fighting for the release of the abducted girls.
"I will always be in "bring back our girls" as long as the girls remain in captivity, I wear my badge all the time.
“It is not all about the Chibok girls, but it's about everyone that has been captured and in Boko Haram captivity, I will continue to advocate for their release"
"When it comes to the girl-child empowerment or children in general, we need to rise up above our political or religious differences and rally round anybody at disadvantage".
"People should not allow themselves to be boxed into a corner and denied the right to voice their opinion on issues. I am in APC and I will demand continuously for the release of the girls, she affirmed.
“At the same time there are lines that we draw that are not around politics or party affiliation", she explained.
Hadiza also said that at the end of her tenure, she wants to be remembered for her efficiency, transparency and accountability.
"I am keen on efficiency, transparency and accountability, so I would like to be efficient, transparent and accountable in everything I do" she said.
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