Legal Drama

Insensitive? Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is “Tired of the Same Story,” i.e. Talking About the Kidnapped Chibok Girls #Bringbackourgirls

It’s Mothers Day here in the USA today and while we celebrate our wonderful mothers, needless to say, one cannot help but notice the continued plight of mothers in Nigeria, especially the mothers of the 200+ abducted Chibok girls.

That is why, it is a bit weird and insensitive, in my view, to hear Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala say she is “tired of the same story” when asked about the missing Chibok girls by ABC journalists.

I tried understanding the context and watched the clip several times to do so. In the end, I still conclude that her choice of words was quite poor and I shudder to think it may possibly reflect how she and other important members of the Goodluck administration feel.

Even when these girls are rescued (I am praying that they are), I don’t believe we stop talking about these girls and all Nigerian girls; and the danger of what it means to be a girl in that country. We also should not become “tired,” leaders and citizens alike, to come up with solutions to ensure the security and safety of our children, our future leaders.

If I recall correctly, Iweala’s mother was kidnapped last year and I don’t recall any mention of “tired(ness)” from the Goodluck administration. On the contrary, the administration worked fast and furious in securing the return of her mother.

Watch the clip below.


ABC US News | ABC Entertainment News

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7 Comments

  1. benji says:

    I was incensed while reading your article over her utterance but having watched the video-it wasn’t all that bad. At risk of sounding callous to some sanctimonious individuals: Come on Okonjo Iweala isn’t God. She’s human. She might have been caught at a bad time. Hey, even Christ asked the sick woman begging for healing to go away but in her persistence she was healed. I am not holding brief for her but it is clear from the video that she is mentally fatigued. But she still had the decency to answer his questions which by the reporter’s admission was more than other public officers had done. It’s easy to criticize/comment on fallibility. She just said she was tired not that she wasn’t interested. She would also be tired of talking to the press while her mum was kidnapped. It can stressful. I just sympathize that she is working for a clueless government. Defending them must be hard.

    1. She may be “mentally fatigued” but to me the right thing to do is to take a mental break. It doesn’t justify a “tired of the same story” comment on the specific question of the abduction of these missing girls. In fact it is insensitive and comes across condescending and egotistical.

      Also, to say “it’s easy to criticize or comment on fallibility” is to give Okonjo-Iweala a pass based on her credentials and/or intelligence and work in the economic sector. The two ought to be distinguished. She is not exempt from questions and Nigerians holding her accountable as a government official and public figure representing the interest of Nigeria and its citizens. Her comments were inappropriate and a poor choice of words, at a minimum. She’s tired of answering questions from the press? Really? Our girls have been missing for almost a month and she is already “tired?”

      -Uduak

  2. benji says:

    I gave her no exemption. Just human fallibility. Had she said she was tired and moved on then that would be considered condescending. But she did stop and answer a few questions after that. She is not the minister of information, mind, or the chief of army staff. Reuben Abati and Labarun Maku are there. The ‘mental break’ you suggested clearly was not possible as you could see from the video. She was still handling post-WEF issues and had a meeting to attend. I don’t think you are being fair to her personally by making her comment a mountain. She is also concerned about those girls. But covering up for the president’s ineptitude in this matter with the media at every corner can be tiring for anyone but a chronic liar. But hey to each his/her own right? You took offence. I’m sure at a better moment she’d have answered different. Nobody’s perfect.

    1. The idea that one of the most influential officials in the current Jonathan administration has to be a “Minister of Information” or ‘Chief of Army Staff” to diplomatically and respectfully respond to questions on where 200+ young girls abducted from their schools are, is preposterous, and ridiculous at best. There are numerous interviews to count where Iweala has been asked questions that exceed the scope of her role as finance minister, and she has responded without such diversion of go and find Minister of Defence etc. While indeed the specific officials entrusted with the duty of security should be the ones responding to more specific inquiries, it does not preclude Iweala understanding and speaking on the basics. Also, let’s be CLEAR what the issue is. It’s not about being “perfect” or “chronic liar” it is about the absurdity of a woman, role model and government official saying she is “tired of the same old story” of 200+ abducted girls who are yet to be returned to their homes. That she answered further questions posed by the reporter doesn’t change the prior statements of being “tired” of the “same old story.” It is the “same old story” because the Goodluck administration is yet to fix the “same old” and glaring problem of safety and security for its citizens. Again, ridiculous response at best and if she is tired of “covering up for the President’s ineptitude” as you state, then she maybe ought to think of resigning as she did before under the Obasanjo administration.

  3. benji says:

    I agree that it was a poor choice of words …at the maximum. The fact that many here are spending time making fun of Patience Jonathan’s viral ‘Dia is God o’ video rather than focus on the issue at hand could also be considered by some as insensitive and diversionary. However I’d rather take it as a way of handling the frustration and helplessness many Nigerians feel in this traumatic situation. Main thing: We pray that the girls are rescued alive. Thanks to mounted pressure.

  4. Ayodeji says:

    If you were in her shoes, you would know what it means to answer the same set of questions over and over again just because someone wants to claim originality of a story or score some other points. Her statement has been grossly misconstrued. The following press statement says it better:

    FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

    News Release. May 12, 2014

    ATTEMPTS TO MISREPRESENT OKONJO-IWEALA’S STANCE ON CHIBOK GIRLS UNWARRANTED

    It has come to our attention that there are attempts to misrepresent the position of CME on the unfortunate abduction of the Chibok girls.

    The online campaign is based on the lie that the minister is “tired” of talking about the abducted girls. This is a distortion of her comments to a reporter from ABC News of the US.

    Such a distortion is contrary to numerous and consistent comments by the minister which underscore her pain and concern over the issue.

    The minister had previously stated during WEF that “As a mother of four children, including a daughter, I cannot imagine the agony the parents of these children must be experiencing. We understand the anger and sadness that is shared by Nigerians at home and abroad.”

    She had also tweeted: “Our commitment to #BringBackOurGirls does not end with #WEFAfrica. It'll continue. It is our task. We must do it until we bring them back!”

    The minister is certainly NOT tired of an issue which has been a nightmare to families involved and all Nigerians for the past one month. She urges that we all focus on the girls themselves and how we bring them back.

    Below is the link to the complete interview. Please view and judge for yourself.
    http://abcnews.go.com/International/video/nigeria

    Paul C Nwabuikwu
    Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance

  5. C Y says:

    Are all these real Nigerians with chidren/ mothers sisters, making these comments and defences? Wow .. 'No body is perfect?' , 'wasn't all that bad'? 'Come on Okonjo Iweala isn't God. She's human' ? We are Finished !!!

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