[DASUKIGATE] Jonathan’s Govt Spent Billions On Arms, But Abused Trust – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that former administration of Goodluck Jonathan spent billions of naira and millions of dollars on efforts to equip the Nigerian military against Boko Haram, but there was rampant “abuse of trust”,

Buhari said the abuse cost the nation lives and equipment.

He made the remark while addressing members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The President urged the legislature to collaborate with the executive arm of government to secure the country and effectively manage it.

“There are a lot of obstacles to be crossed. The objectives we have are to secure this country and effectively manage it,” the President said.

According to him, the major challenge in the security of the country was the threat posed by the Boko Haram insurgency but added that the leadership of the country had set clear targets toward the re-organisation, retraining and re-equipping the military to neutralize Boko Haram.

He said his administration had hoped that at the end of the rainy season organised attack would be launched against the insurgents, adding that government had also raised the morale of the soldiers to tackle the challenge.

The President, however, observed that his administration uncovered that the previous administration expended “billions of naira and hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire military equipment but with several abuses of trust.

“There were abuses of trust and that cost Nigeria a lot of lives and a lot of goodwill’’ he said.

Buhari observed that Nigeria, which had earned reputation in the fight against criminal activities and defence of territories abroad, found out that it could no longer defend a few local government areas occupied by insurgents.

“I seek your understanding,” Mr. Buhari appealed.

He told the legislators to think about the consequences of not acting in tandem with the government, noting that Nigerians were wiser to know those who represent them well.

He noted that he took the initiative of seeking the collaboration of the international community to be able to win the war against terrorism.