(BREAKING) Boko Haram : Jonathan clarifies comment on Buhari

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed claims that he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of having ties to Boko Haram, saying his comments were taken out of context.

The former president clarified his position following widespread reactions to remarks he made during the launch of a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said his comments were “grossly misrepresented” by some sections of the media.

“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.

“We wish to make it abundantly 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 part of a broader reflection on Nigeria’s security challenges and were intended to show how Boko Haram exploited public figures’ names for manipulation.

“Dr. Jonathan’s remarks, made in the course of a broader discussion on Nigeria’s security challenges, were meant to illustrate the deviousness and manipulative strategies employed by Boko Haram in their early years.

“His reference was to a well-documented episode when various individuals and factions falsely claimed to represent the terrorist group and purported to name prominent Nigerians as possible mediators: without those individuals’ knowledge or consent.”

The former president said his comments were meant to expose the terrorist group’s tactics of deceit rather than implicate any political figure.

“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.”

Jonathan added that if Buhari had truly been the group’s choice of negotiator, then their violent campaign should have ended when Buhari became president.

“The former president’s position was that if indeed Buhari was their choice negotiator, why didn’t Boko Haram expeditiously bring their evil terrorist agenda to an end when the retired General became president?”

He further emphasized that Buhari was also a victim of Boko Haram’s violence and shared a common resolve with him to restore peace in the country.

“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.”

Jonathan’s office urged the public to disregard any distorted interpretation of his comments, stressing his continued commitment to peace and unity.
“The Office of the Former President therefore urges the public to disregard any misinterpretation of his remarks. Dr. Jonathan remains committed to peace, unity, and the strengthening of democratic values in Nigeria. He 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.”