Jonathan Visites Chad For Talks With His Counterpart

President Goodluck Jonathan is visiting Ndjamena, capital of Chad, today, November 24, 2014, Monday, for another meeting with President Idris Deby Itno. The previous one was held over 2 months ago.

Presidents Deby and Jonathan today. Photo: Reuben Abati

The presidency did not disclose the purpose of the visit, but there are signs that it may be related with the Boko Haram terrorists, disturbing Nigeria since 2009.

President Jonathan may need to ask his Chadian colleague about the fate of millions of dollars paid to forge a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram.

President Idris Deby, warmly received Jonathan. Photo: Reuben Abati

The former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, accused by Australian negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, of sponsoring Boko Haram, was conspicuously absent in President Jonathan’s delegation.

Sheriff’s presence at a meeting Jonathan held with Idris Deby on 8 September, drew a lot of eyebrows and blames.

Presidents Deby and Jonathan today. Photo: Reuben Abati

There were unconfirmed reports in the past that tagged the Chadian government as a main supplier of arms to Boko Haram.

Chadian president was connected with what turned out to be a fake multi-million dollars peace talks with a man, Danlami Ahmadu, who presented Boko Haram during October 2014 negotiations and reportedly spoke on behalf of sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Nigerian authorities have been investigating the insurgents’ source of arms in the last five years.

A close political associate of President Idriss Déby, Mahamat Bichara Gnoti, has been recently arrested as he tried to transfer missiles he purchased from the Sudanese army meant for Boko Haram terrorists in northeastern Nigeria.

Mr. Gnoti, who accused Déby in giving him the funds to purchase the weapons, had waved a presidential pass issued to him by the president’s office in order to get past border guards, but was stopped and searched. The guards eventually found the deadly weapons on him.