Goodluck Not Buhari ‘Defeated’ Boko Haram

Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser, NSA, has said that the Goodluck Jonathan-led government deserves commendation for defeating Boko Haram Islamic terrorist group.

Speaking from the Kuje Prisons, Abuja, where he is being held for allegedly mismanaging about $2.1 billion meant to purchase arms to fight terrorism, the ex-NSA said the 2015 election, which brought in President Muhammadu Buhari was possible because of the previous administration.

Mr. Dasuki spoke in a forward he personally wrote to a 308-page book titled ‘Boko Haram Media War – An Encounter with the Spymaster,’ authored by Yushau Shuaib, an award-winning Public Relations professional.

Mr. Dasuki said the Jonathan administration defeated Boko Haram in the North East to ensure the last general elections took place peacefully.

“In fact, without our intervention in ensuring the defeat of Boko Haram, the electorates could not have had the opportunity to exercise their franchise.

“It is a fact that we provided peace and stability that afforded Nigerians, especially in the North-East in voting for their governors, legislators and others in the 2015 elections.

“In the war-front are evident success stories which Shuaib has mentioned in some of the articles that featured in this book, especially on media relations, self-censorship, gallantry in recovering dozens of cities and towns among other declassified revelations,” Mr. Dasuki was quoted in the forward.

In the forward he wrote, the ex-NSA said part of the strategies deployed by the Jonathan administration was the use of what he called, “Crisis Communication”, which he said aided the government in “to win the heart of the citizens, boost the morale of the troops and weaken the fighting spirit of the terrorists.”

Recall that the 2015 general elections was postponed for six-weeks, from February 14 to March 28, during which the military recorded several successes against Boko Haram.

Mr Dasuki was arrested on December 1, 2015, over the alleged diversion of funds meant for arms procurement.

The former NSA and five others, including two firms, are facing a 19-count charge of fraud over alleged N13.6 billion fraud, which was part of a $2.1 billion fund released for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military to fight Boko Haram during his tenure.

The other defendants are Shuaibu Salusi, former director of Finance at the Office of the NSA; Aminu Baba-Kusa, former executive director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company; Bashir Yuguda, former minister of State for Finance; Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Reference Hospital.

It was also during his tenure that the terror group kidnapped about 270 teenage girls from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State.

Many of the girls have since been released due to the efforts of the current administration, although scores still remain with the insurgents.

He is being held in custody by the Muhammadu Buhari government, despite several court orders granting him bail.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in December, 2016, said the Boko Haram militant sect has been technically defeated.

“Well, all I know is that out of the 14 Local Government Areas in Borno State where they (Boko Haram) used to hold and hoist their flag, they are nowhere in charge of any of them again. But they can still regroup and go after attacking soft targets,” the President told BBC.