A SECURITY analyst from France has argued that Nigeria’s chances of defeating Boko Haram are being hampered by corruption inside the Nigerian army.

Dr Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Africa programme, who also cited unpaid wages as another reason why the Islamic insurgents remain undefeated, argued that Goodluck Jonathan is unable to win the fight with the terrorist group, led by Abubakar Shekau.

The Frenchman said he held out hope that the problem could be dealt with if there was a change in governance following the country’s Presidential elections on February 14.

“The best hope [of defeating Boko Haram] would be the elections. For me the problem is in Nigeria. The answer is in Nigeria,” said Perouse de Montclos.

“I’m confident that so long as President Jonathan is in charge there isn’t much that can be done.”

“He isn’t in control of the military leadership. And the leadership doesn’t control the soldiers on the ground,” de Montclos said in a briefing released by the Guardian newspaper.

Boko Haram has been wreaking havoc in the Northern states of Nigeria but has had less success in neighbouring Cameroon due to the country’s swift military response.

Military advisors to the Nigerian President have rejected claims of corruption within its army.

A recent interview conducted by a CNN reporter was deemed ‘satanic’ by a spokesperson from the Nigerian Defence Force.

Another of Nigeria’s national security advisors blamed the inability to fight Boko Haram on his own “coward” soldiers.

Sambo Dasuki said: “Anyone who is saying that they are not well armed is not telling the truth.

“We had a lot of cowards, and it turned out there was a problem in the recruitment process.”

Opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari has condemned President Jonathan’s administration team for refusing to discuss the issue of corruption at a recent campaign rally.

Jonathan instead challenged Buhari on his ‘missing’ WASC (GCSE) certificates from 53 years ago.

Buhari, who has since provided evidence of his exam results, criticised Jonathan for failing to address "the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of our young people, the state of insecurity, the pervasive official corruption which has impoverished our people.”