Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said former President Goodluck Jonathan did not make the defeat of terrorist group, Boko Haram a priority during his administration.

Osinbajo spoke at the  Harvard University’s Weatherland Centre for International Affairs, United States on “The unraveling of Boko Haram and the rebuilding of the North-East of Nigeria”.

According to a statement from the Vice President’s office on Monday, Osinbajo said the former administration was shifting blames and claiming the sect was formed to discredit the government led by a christian.

He also said Jonathan’s government was accusing the APC of sponsoring the sect until President Muhammadu Buhari was attacked and almost killed.

The Vice-President added, “Secondly, the ruling party also somewhat cynically seemed to have considered that since BH attacks were actually in the heartland of the opposition it was not necessarily an unwelcome development as it could only weaken the opposition.

“Third, extensive corruption in arms procurement estimated at about $15bn, ensured that the military remained poorly equipped and demoralised.

“A number of well-publicised mutinies occurred and troops involved were taken through widely unpopular court-martials.

“As the government dithered and equivocated BH proceeded to realise the objective of occupying territory and  establishing Islamist states in Nigeria and in the Lake Chad basin.

“In Borno State alone, it occupied and hoisted its flag in 20 of the 27 Local Government Areas that constituted the state. In Adamawa State,  BH took Mubi and some villages in Yobe State.”

Osinbajo added that Jonathan’s administration began to take the insurgency seriously after the kidnap of secondary school girls in Chibok.

He further said Buhari’s assumption of office changed the tide.

Azeez