I never said Buhari was linked to Boko Haram, Jonathan clarifies
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted media reports claiming he accused the late former President Muhammadu Buhari of having ties with Boko Haram, describing the allegations as “false and misleading.”
In a statement on Saturday by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan clarified that his recent remarks at the launch of Scars — a book written by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd) — were taken out of context.
He explained that he merely referenced a past incident in which Boko Haram named Buhari among individuals it wanted to represent them in peace talks, noting that this was part of the group’s deceptive tactics and not an indication of any connection between Buhari and the insurgents.
“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.
“His remarks were made to illustrate the deviousness and manipulative strategies employed by Boko Haram in their early years.”
The former president emphasised that the mention of Buhari’s name by the insurgents was one of several false claims made by factions pretending to represent Boko Haram at the time.
“Boko Haram often invoked the names of respected public figures to sow confusion, exploit political divisions, and undermine public confidence in government,” Eze added.
Jonathan’s office further questioned why, if Buhari was truly the group’s chosen negotiator, Boko Haram did not end its violent campaign after he became president.
“Dr. Jonathan recognises that President Muhammadu Buhari, like every patriotic Nigerian, stood firmly against terrorism and was himself a target of Boko Haram violence,” the statement continued.
Jonathan urged Nigerians to disregard the misrepresentation, reaffirming his continued commitment to national peace, unity, and democratic stability.
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