Abuja – Garba Shehu, the spokesperson for former President Muhammadu Buhari’s loyalists, has criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan’s assertion that Boko Haram designated Buhari as their representative in negotiations with the government. Shehu urged Jonathan to reconsider his narrative.
In a statement issued on Friday night, Shehu refuted Jonathan’s claim, emphasizing that Buhari narrowly escaped a Boko Haram assassination attempt in 2014 in Kaduna, which left some of his aides injured.
The statement read: “We feel compelled to respond to an alarming statement made by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan regarding the late President Muhammadu Buhari, suggesting that Boko Haram nominated him for dialogue with the government. If this is part of Jonathan’s 2027 presidential campaign, we must inform him that he is off to a misleading start.”
Shehu clarified that neither Muhammed Yusuf nor Abubakar Shekau, the deceased leaders of Boko Haram, ever appointed Buhari for any mediating role. In fact, Shekau consistently denounced Buhari, as their ideologies were fundamentally opposed.
The statement further noted that Buhari’s campaign was centered on combating Boko Haram and restoring security in Nigeria, placing him directly at odds with the terrorist organization. It dismissed rumors from that period claiming that Boko Haram had put forth Buhari as a mediator, asserting that he had no knowledge of such a nomination.
Engr. Buba Galadima, then National Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), stated that Buhari was unaware of any such appointment. He quoted Buhari as saying it was mere speculation and emphasized that no one had contacted him regarding the matter.
The statement also indicated that Buhari, the CPC’s presidential candidate in 2011, expressed his commitment to praying for peace in Nigeria. It attributed the misinformation to a faction of Boko Haram, possibly backed by Buhari’s rivals, which held a press conference in Maiduguri. A certain Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, claiming to represent Boko Haram, suggested Buhari and other prominent figures as mediators, a claim that was strongly rejected by Boko Haram leaders who stated he lacked their leader’s mandate.
Mr. Rotimi Fashekun, then CPC national publicity secretary, criticized Jonathan and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for using Buhari’s alleged nomination for political advantage. He characterized the claim as a tactic by the PDP to distract the public from ongoing corruption.
Fashekun asserted, “General Muhammadu Buhari has never been associated with any insurrection against Nigeria. He remains a dedicated patriot who unites the best across Nigeria’s diverse communities.” He held the PDP responsible for the country’s rising insecurity, claiming it was an intentional strategy to maintain control over governance.
He identified three factions within Boko Haram and accused the PDP of supporting one of them, asserting that the party had been warned about Boko Haram’s infiltration into the government. Citing intelligence reports, he highlighted the involvement of high-ranking PDP officials in Boko Haram activities, reinforcing the notion of a deliberate attempt to undermine Nigeria’s stability.
Concluding the statement, Shehu advised Jonathan to find a more credible narrative if he hopes to succeed in the 2027 elections.