Former President Goodluck Jonathan has strongly denied ever suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari had any ties to Boko Haram, describing recent media interpretations of his remarks as misleading and completely out of context.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, on Saturday, Jonathan clarified that his comments at the launch of Gen. Lucky Irabor’s memoir were misrepresented by some media outlets. The ex-president said his speech was intended to highlight Boko Haram’s manipulation tactics not to accuse anyone.
“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,” the statement read.
Jonathan: My Words Were Twisted
The clarification comes after several reports claimed Jonathan had hinted at Buhari being a preferred negotiator for Boko Haram in its early years, a claim now debunked by the former president.
Jonathan explained that he referenced a well-documented episode where Boko Haram, in its deceptive strategy, named several prominent Nigerians as potential mediators in its proposed dialogue with the government, often without those individuals’ consent.
“His comments were an illustration of Boko Haram’s duplicity, not an accusation against Buhari or anyone else,” Eze said.
Jonathan said his original remarks were intended to show how Boko Haram, in its early operations, would exploit the credibility of respected figures to sow public distrust and confusion.
“The terrorist group invoked the names of respected Nigerians to create division and manipulate public perception,” he said, noting that this was part of their broader disinformation strategy.
“Why Didn’t They Stop If Buhari Was Their Man?” — Jonathan
Challenging the logic of the claim, Jonathan asked why Boko Haram continued its violent campaign even after Buhari was elected in 2015, if indeed he was their alleged choice for negotiation.
“If Buhari was indeed their chosen negotiator, why didn’t the attacks stop when he became president?” he queried.
Jonathan emphasized that both he and Buhari opposed terrorism and were committed to Nigeria’s stability, despite political differences.
“President Buhari, like every patriotic Nigerian, stood against terrorism and was himself a target of Boko Haram. Both leaders worked to restore peace during their tenures.”
The former president warned against the deliberate distortion of public commentary for political gain, urging the media and public to focus on truthful engagement rather than sensationalism.
“Nigeria’s progress depends on a truthful understanding of its challenges, not on twisting facts to fit a political narrative,” the statement concluded.
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