Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted reports claiming he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of having links with Boko Haram, insisting his remarks were grossly misrepresented.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan clarified that he never alleged, hinted, or implied that Buhari supported or had any connection with the terrorist group.
The clarification comes after reactions to Jonathan’s remarks on Friday at the launch of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), where the former president recalled that Boko Haram once named Buhari among individuals they wanted to represent them in peace talks with the government.
Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, explained that the group’s mention of Buhari came after his administration had set up committees to initiate dialogue with the insurgents.
However, former presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu dismissed the account as “false and politically motivated.”
Eze, in the statement, said Jonathan’s comments were aimed at illustrating Boko Haram’s deceptive tactics, not implicating Buhari.
We wish to make it abundantly clear that the former president’s comments were grossly misrepresented,” Eze stated. “At no time did Dr. Jonathan suggest, imply, or insinuate that President Buhari had any connection with Boko Haram or that he supported the group in any form.”
He explained that Jonathan’s remarks were meant to highlight how Boko Haram, in its early years, falsely invoked the names of respected public figures to create confusion and exploit political divisions.
His reference was to a well-documented episode when various factions falsely claimed to represent Boko Haram and purported to name prominent Nigerians as possible mediators without their knowledge or consent,” Eze added.
Jonathan’s office emphasized that his comment sought to expose the terrorist group’s duplicity, not accuse Buhari or anyone else.
If indeed Buhari was their choice negotiator, why didn’t Boko Haram bring their evil agenda to an end when he became president?” the statement questioned.
Eze further stressed that Jonathan recognized Buhari as a patriotic Nigerian who stood firmly against terrorism and was himself targeted by Boko Haram. Both leaders, he noted, shared a common goal of restoring peace and stability to the nation.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the misleading reports, reaffirming Jonathan’s commitment to peace, unity, and democratic consolidation in Nigeria.