Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed media reports claiming he said that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari was nominated by the Boko Haram terrorist group to represent them in dialogue with the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said his remarks at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd), in Abuja on Friday, were “grossly misrepresented.”
“The attention of the Office of Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been drawn to misleading reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Dr. Jonathan alleged that Boko Haram nominated the late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to represent them in dialogue with the Federal Government, and therefore this made him somehow complicit in the Boko Haram crisis,” the statement read in part.
“It is important to make it clear that the former President’s comments were grossly misrepresented. 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.”
Jonathan explained that his remarks were made in the context of discussing Nigeria’s security challenges, to highlight the manipulative strategies employed by Boko Haram in their early years.
He clarified that his reference was to a documented episode in which various individuals and factions falsely claimed to represent the terrorist group and purportedly named prominent Nigerians as mediators without their knowledge or consent.
According to him, “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.”
The statement added that Jonathan only used the example to illustrate the group’s duplicity, not to accuse the late Buhari or any other person.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Jonathan recognises that President Muhammadu Buhari, like every patriotic Nigerian, stood firmly against terrorism and was himself a target of Boko Haram violence,” it continued. “Both men, during their respective tenures, shared a common commitment to restoring peace and stability to Nigeria.”
Jonathan’s office therefore urged the public to disregard any misrepresentation of his remarks, noting that he remains committed to peace, unity, and democratic values.
At the book presentation, Jonathan had said:
“One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government. So, I was feeling that if they nominated Buhari to represent them and have a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But the problem is still there till today.”
