Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted claims that he associated his successor, the late Muhammadu Buhari, with the Boko Haram insurgency.
This clarification came in response to widespread criticism following Jonathan’s comments at the launch of Scars, a book authored by retired General Lucky Irabor, former Chief of Defence Staff, last Friday.
During the event, Jonathan recounted an incident from 2012 when Boko Haram purportedly nominated the late President Buhari to act as their representative in negotiations with the Federal Government.
Shortly after, Garba Shehu, a former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Information to Jonathan, cautioned the ex-President against politicizing the Boko Haram crisis, especially given his ambitions for the 2027 presidential election.
However, on Saturday, Jonathan’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, issued a statement clarifying that the former President’s remarks had been taken out of context by the press.
Jonathan emphasized that his comments were intended to highlight Boko Haram’s deceptive tactics rather than implicate Buhari in any way.
He also challenged the rationale behind the allegations linking Buhari to the terrorist group.
Jonathan reaffirmed the late President’s dedication to Nigeria’s peace and security.
The statement read: “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 Boko Haram’s chosen negotiator with the Federal Government, implying complicity in the insurgency.
“We categorically state that these interpretations are false. At no point did Dr. Jonathan insinuate or imply any association between President Buhari and Boko Haram, nor did he suggest any form of support for the group.
“His remarks, made within a broader discourse on Nigeria’s security issues, aimed to demonstrate Boko Haram’s cunning and manipulative strategies during their early operations.
“He referred to a documented episode where various factions falsely claimed to represent Boko Haram and named prominent Nigerians as mediators without their consent or knowledge.
“Dr. Jonathan’s intention was to illustrate how Boko Haram exploited the names of respected public figures to create confusion, deepen political divides, and erode public trust in government institutions. His comments were illustrative of the group’s deceit, not an accusation against any individual, including the late President.
“Furthermore, Dr. Jonathan questioned why, if Buhari was truly their chosen negotiator, Boko Haram did not cease their violent activities once he assumed the presidency.
“To clarify, Dr. Jonathan acknowledges that President Buhari, like all patriotic Nigerians, opposed terrorism and was himself targeted by Boko Haram attacks. Both leaders shared a mutual goal of achieving peace and stability during their respective administrations.
“The Office of the Former President urges the public to disregard any misinterpretations of his statements. Dr. Jonathan remains steadfast in his commitment to peace, national unity, and the promotion of democratic principles in Nigeria. He believes that genuine progress depends on an accurate understanding of the country’s challenges, not on distorting facts for political gain or sensationalism.”