Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted media reports suggesting that he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of being nominated by Boko Haram or having links to the insurgent group.
In a statement released on Saturday and signed by Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs) to the former President described the reports as “gross misrepresentation” of the former leader’s comments during a broader discussion on Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
“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 clarified.
According to the statement, Jonathan’s comments were made in reference to a well-documented episode during the height of the Boko Haram crisis, when various factions of the terrorist group falsely named prominent Nigerians, including General Buhari, as potential mediators for peace talks — often without their knowledge or consent.
The former president had cited the episode to illustrate how Boko Haram manipulated public narratives by invoking respected names to sow confusion, create distrust, and exploit political fault lines in the country.
“The point Dr. Jonathan sought to make was that Boko Haram, in its characteristic deceit, often invoked the names of respected public figures to undermine public confidence in government,” the statement read.
Jonathan further emphasised that both he and the late President Buhari were committed to Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and were at different points targets of Boko Haram violence.
“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,” the statement continued.
It further pointed out the irony in the false claims about Buhari being Boko Haram’s chosen negotiator, noting that the terrorist activities continued even after Buhari assumed office as president, further disproving the narrative being circulated in the media.
The former President called on the public and media houses to exercise caution in reporting sensitive national issues, urging them not to twist facts for political or sensational purposes.
“Dr. Jonathan remains committed to peace, unity, and the strengthening of democratic values in Nigeria,” the statement said, adding, “The nation’s progress depends on a truthful understanding of its challenges, not on distortion of facts.”
