₦airaland Forum

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said his comments on the role of President Muhammadu Buhari in Boko Haram crisis was misrepresented.

Jonathan said this while responding to the backlash which trailed his speech at the book launch of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lucky Irabor.

In a statement signed by Ikechukwu Eze, his spokesman, Jonathan said, “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.

“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 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.

“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?

“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.

“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.”

SmartPolician:
We know when Boko Haram announced Buhari as their negotiator. We are all alive in this same country at the time.

The problem of Jonathan is that he lacks the guts to make tough calls. That's why he didn't invite the ICC to pick up Buhari when he said that the streets would be soacked with the blood of baboon after losing election in 2011 which resulted in the death of many southerners in the north, especially corps members.

Had I been the president, that was exactly what I would've done! Let heavens fall! If the ICC picked Buhari up that time, he would be too busy thinking of challenging Jonathan in 2015, and Nigeria wouldn't be in this economic mess. Jonathan should go and rest. He's too weak to lead Nigeria.

Chibuzoc:
Buhari made it clear that a fight against boko haram is a fight against the north. Buhari might even be the patron

SmartPolician:
We know when Boko Haram announced Buhari as their negotiator. We are all alive in this same country at the time. The problem of Jonathan is that he lacks the guts to make tough calls. That's why he didn't invite the ICC to pick up Buhari when he said that the streets would be soaked with the blood of baboon after losing the 2011 election which resulted in the deaths of many southerners in the north, especially corps members.

Had I been the president, that was exactly what I would've done! Let heavens fall! If the ICC picked Buhari up that time, he would be too busy thinking of challenging Jonathan in 2015, and Nigeria wouldn't be in this economic mess. Jonathan should go and rest. He's too weak to lead Nigeria.

SmartPolician:
We know when Boko Haram announced Buhari as their negotiator. We are all alive in this same country at the time. The problem of Jonathan is that he lacks the guts to make tough calls. That's why he didn't invite the ICC to pick up Buhari when he said that the streets would be soaked with the blood of baboon after losing the 2011 election which resulted in the deaths of many southerners in the north, especially corps members.

Had I been the president, that was exactly what I would've done! Let heavens fall! If the ICC picked Buhari up that time, he would be too busy thinking of challenging Jonathan in 2015, and Nigeria wouldn't be in this economic mess. Jonathan should go and rest. He's too weak to lead Nigeria.

Softmirror:
Even Peter Obi made it clear about IPOB about his stance.