Jonathan Hampered Efforts To Tackle Boko Haram - Idris Deby, Chadian President Slammed Nigeria

Idriss Deby, Chadian President has claimed that he single handedly called war on the extremist group, Boko Haram. The President slammed President Goodluck Jonathan, saying nothing would have been done if the war was left to him as Chad was never authorized the decision.

Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan had claimed that after five years of tolerating the sect that killed thousands, he finally this January embarked on the serious effort to defeat Boko Haram to increase his dwindling approval ratings and also to allow voting in occupied territory, which was cited as a reason for the postponement of the first election dates; however the Chadians have said that this real war against the terrorists was decided upon unilaterally by Deby in reaction to Boko Haram obstructing Chad’s trade routes with Nigeria and the economy of the landlocked nation.

He made quotes from Reuters saying: Officials from Chad, Niger and Cameroon say lack of cooperation from Nigeria has for months hampered efforts to put together a regional taskforce against Boko Haram. Chad was compelled to take unilateral action in January, under a deal that allows it to pursue terrorists into Nigeria, after Boko Haram violence started to choke off imports to its economy.
But for a country proud to be a major African power, it would be an embarrassment to President Goodluck Jonathan as he seeks reelection for a smaller nation to tackle Nigeria’s security problems, diplomats say.

Chad has been ready to press deep into territory controlled by the Islamist group but Nigeria refused to let them.

We turned back because Nigeria did not authorise us to go any further,” army spokesman Colonel Azem Bermandoa said.

But the Chadians say there have been no joint operations between the two forces. Nigeria has for months hampered efforts to put together a regional taskforce against Boko Haram.