Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has firmly rejected claims that he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of having any affiliations with the terrorist group Boko Haram, clarifying that his statements were taken out of context.
In an official release dated October 4 and issued by his spokesperson Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan emphasized that he never insinuated or implied any form of association between Buhari and Boko Haram, nor did he suggest any support for the insurgents.
During a recent event marking the launch of ‘Scars’, a buhari-will-defeat-boko-haram-jonathan/” title=”Jonathan Reveals Why He Believed … Would Defeat …”>book authored by Lucky Irabor, the former Chief of Defence Staff, Jonathan recounted that Boko Haram had once proposed Buhari-who succeeded him as president-as a negotiator to engage with the federal government. This reference was made in the context of his administration’s efforts to establish dialogue committees aimed at resolving the insurgency.
Nonetheless, Garba Shehu, who previously served as Buhari’s spokesperson, dismissed these assertions as unfounded and politically charged.
Eze clarified that Jonathan’s remarks were part of a wider commentary on Nigeria’s ongoing security issues, intended to shed light on the deceptive tactics Boko Haram employed during its formative years.
“The Office of Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has noted misleading media reports suggesting that Dr. Jonathan accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, of being nominated by Boko Haram to represent them in talks with the Federal Government, implying complicity in the insurgency.
We categorically state that these interpretations are inaccurate. At no point did Dr. Jonathan imply or suggest any connection or support between President Buhari and Boko Haram.
His comments were made within a broader discussion on Nigeria’s security challenges, highlighting the cunning and manipulative strategies Boko Haram used in its early stages.
Specifically, he referred to documented instances where various actors falsely claimed to represent Boko Haram and named prominent Nigerians as mediators without their consent or knowledge.
The essence of Dr. Jonathan’s point was to demonstrate how Boko Haram exploited the names of respected public figures to create confusion, deepen political rifts, and erode public trust in government institutions.
Therefore, his remarks were illustrative of the group’s deceitfulness, not an accusation against the late president or any individual.
Furthermore, Dr. Jonathan questioned that if Buhari was truly their chosen negotiator, why Boko Haram did not cease their violent activities promptly after he assumed office.
For clarity, Dr. Jonathan acknowledges that President Muhammadu Buhari, like all patriotic Nigerians, stood firmly against terrorism and was himself targeted by Boko Haram attacks. Both leaders shared a mutual dedication to restoring peace and security during their respective administrations.”
Eze urged the public to disregard any distorted interpretations of Jonathan’s statements, reaffirming the former president’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s peace, unity, and democratic progress.
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