Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted reports claiming he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of having links with Boko Haram, saying his comments were misrepresented.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Ikechukwu Eze, his special adviser on media and public affairs, Jonathan said he never suggested or implied that Buhari had any connection with the terrorist group or supported it in any way.
Speaking at a book launch in Abuja, Jonathan said Boko Haram once nominated Buhari to represent them in peace talks with the federal government.
The former president said his reference was taken out of context and was intended to highlight the deceptive tactics used by sect in their early years, when several individuals and factions falsely claimed to represent the group and named prominent Nigerians as possible mediators without their knowledge or consent.
“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 reads.
“The point Dr. Jonathan sought to make was that Boko Haram, in its characteristic deceit, often invoked the names of respected public figures to sow confusion, exploit political divisions, and undermine public confidence in government. His comments were therefore an illustration of the group’s duplicity, not an accusation against the late former president or any individual for that matter.”
The former president said his remarks during the book presentation of ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum’ by Lucky Irabor, the former chief of defence staff, were made in good faith as part of a broader reflection on Nigeria’s fight against insurgency.
Jonathan added that his point was that if indeed Boko Haram had truly nominated Buhari as their choice negotiator, the insurgency could have ended when Buhari became president in 2015.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Jonathan recognizes that President Muhammadu Buhari, like every patriotic Nigerian, stood firmly against terrorism and was himself a target of Boko Haram violence. Both men, during their respective tenures, shared a common commitment to restoring peace and stability to Nigeria,” the statement reads.
The former president urged the public to disregard any distortion of his comments, saying his focus remains on promoting peace, unity, and democratic values.
“Dr. Jonathan believes that the nation’s progress depends on a truthful understanding of its challenges, not on the distortion of facts for political or sensational purposes,” the statement added.