Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that during his tenure he believed he would defeat Boko Haram, citing several counterinsurgency efforts that he claims laid the groundwork for the fight against the insurgents.
In a recent speech during a public lecture, Jonathan recounted the challenges his administration faced, including limited intelligence infrastructure, resource constraints, and political obstacles. He acknowledged that while Boko Haram was not destroyed in his term, there were critical strategic advances that shaped subsequent campaigns.
He highlighted increased collaboration with foreign partners for intelligence and border control, as well as efforts to enhance military capacity, although funding and logistical support fell short of demands. Jonathan also expressed regret that some of the institutional reforms initiated then were not fully sustained in later years.
Critics of Jonathan’s reflection say it overlooks some controversial policy decisions, but many members of the public have responded with empathy, recognizing the complexity of fighting an embedded insurgency under difficult circumstances.
