In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan discussed the fight against the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, as well as his country’s smooth political transition following his failed 2015 re-election bid.
Jonathan left the presidency last year after losing his bid for re-election to Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who campaigned on the promise to crackdown on corruption.
Since then, Jonathan’s former national security advisor, Sambo Dasuki, has been accused of of fraud involving $68 million of defence spending, part of a wider $2.1 billion in arms deals that is under intense scrutiny.
Speaking of Boko Haram, Jonathan told FRANCE 24 that he was confident his government’s efforts to fight the terrorist group had laid the groundwork for recent gains made by Buhari's administration against the militants. However, he admitted that the country was somewhat unprepared for the security challenges posed by the terrorist group.
“I believe that with what we left behind and with what the new government will also acquire we will be able to [bring] this war on terror to a reasonable conclusion,” he said.
Boko Haram have killed some 20,000 people in Nigeria and driven 2.3 million people from their homes.
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