FORMER President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has denied media reports suggesting that he accused late former President Muhammadu Buhari of being nominated by Boko Haram as a mediator during the peak of the insurgency crisis.
Jonathan, in a statement issued by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze sent to News Point Nigeria, on Saturday, clarified that his remarks at the public presentation of a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor (rtd), were twisted out of context by some sections of the media.
The former president said his intention was to highlight the manipulative and deceitful tactics often deployed by Boko Haram in its early years, including falsely naming respected Nigerians as potential mediators in peace talks usually without their knowledge or consent.
“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 to represent them in dialogue with the Federal Government, thereby making him complicit in the crisis,” the statement read.
“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 reference during the event was to a documented episode when factions within Boko Haram, in a bid to create confusion, falsely dropped the names of prominent Nigerians as possible negotiators.
According to him, his comments were meant to underscore the duplicity of the terrorist group, not to implicate Buhari or any other Nigerian leader.
“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,” the statement clarified.
He further argued that if indeed Buhari had been Boko Haram’s preferred mediator, then the insurgency should have ended when the retired General assumed office as president in 2015.
Jonathan stressed that Buhari, like every patriotic Nigerian, stood firmly against terrorism and was himself a victim of Boko Haram attacks.
“Both men, during their respective tenures, shared a common commitment to restoring peace and stability to Nigeria,” Jonathan said, adding that any insinuation to the contrary was false and politically mischievous.
The Office of the Former President therefore urged Nigerians to disregard misleading media interpretations of his remarks, describing them as an attempt to distort facts for political or sensational purposes.
Jonathan reaffirmed his commitment to peace, unity, and the strengthening of democratic values in Nigeria, insisting that only a truthful understanding of national security challenges could help Nigeria overcome terrorism and move forward.