Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode claimed yesterday that former President Goodluck Jonathan administration did not divert money meant for arms purchase.
The former Director of Media and Publicity insisted that the last administration purchased arms and fought Boko Haram insurgents to a standstill, except not infiltrating the Sambisa forest.
He stated during a Channels TV programme, Sunrise, that the arms purchased were used to reclaim about 22 local government areas captured by the insurgents.
He said: “I don’t think it’s helpful to continue blaming the government on challenges we are facing on the warfront. But it is important for us to come together to support the government in the fight against terror because we are all Nigerians, regardless of what political party you are in.
“This is not the time to cast aspersions, but time for everyone to join efforts to fight this war to ensure that we have a solid victory against Boko Haram.”
According to him, Jonathan administration had to purchase arms with cash because of the arms embargo on the country, which frustrated the former president to buy weapons from the black market.
President Jonathan during a visit to Maiduguri in the heat of the war against Boko Haram
He added that United Kingdom (UK) and United States (U.S.) governments refused to sell arms to the country.
“The President came out few days ago that no arms were bought by the previous administration. This is a lie. It is not true. If no arms were bought, I wonder how the previous government could have recovered 22 local governments in few months. Arms were used, so to claim that no arms were used is untrue.”
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