I never accused Buhari of links to Boko Haram – Goodluck Jonathan

I never accused Buhari of links to Boko Haram – Goodluck Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports claiming he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of having hyperlinks with Boko Haram, saying his comments were misrepresented.

In a declaration issued by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, on October four, Jonathan stated he by no means suggested or implied that Buhari had any reference to the terrorist group or supported it in any method.

On Friday, even as speakme at the general public presentation of ‘Scars’, a book written by fortunate Irabor, former chief of defence personnel (CDS), Jonathan said Boko Haram as soon as nominated Buhari, his successor, to negotiate on their behalf with the federal authorities. Jonathan, who served as president from 2010 to 2015, said the insurgents cited Buhari after his management installation committees to explore speak with the organization.

however, Garba Shehu, former spokesperson to Buhari, refuted the declare as “false and politically prompted”.

Eze said Jonathan’s remarks were a part of a broader mirrored image on Nigeria’s protection challenges and had been meant to highlight the deceptive procedures employed via Boko Haram in its early days.

“the attention of the workplace of Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been interested in deceptive reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Dr Jonathan alleged that Boko Haram nominated the past due President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to represent them in speak with the Federal government, and consequently this made him by hook or by crook complicit in the Boko Haram crisis.

We desire to make it abundantly clear that the previous President’s comments have been grossly misrepresented. At no time did Dr Jonathan recommend, suggest, or insinuate that President Buhari had any reference to Boko Haram or that he supported the organization in any shape.

Dr Jonathan’s comments, made in the route of a broader dialogue on Nigeria’s security demanding situations, were supposed to illustrate the deviousness and manipulative techniques hired with the aid of Boko Haram of their early years.

His reference used to be to a nicely-documented episode when diverse individuals and factions falsely claimed to represent the terrorist institution and purported to name prominent Nigerians as viable mediators, except those people’ expertise or consent.

The point Dr Jonathan sought to make used to be that Boko Haram, in its feature deceit, often invoked the names of reputable public figures to sow confusion, exploit political divisions, and undermine public self assurance in government.

His comments have been consequently an instance of the organization’s duplicity, now not an accusation against the late former president or any individual, for that count number.

the previous president’s function used to be that if certainly Buhari was once their preference negotiator, why didn’t Boko Haram expeditiously bring their evil terrorist time table to an give up while the retired general have become president?

For the avoidance of doubt, Dr Jonathan recognises that President Muhammadu Buhari, like each patriotic Nigerian, stood firmly towards terrorism and was himself a target of Boko Haram violence. each men, for the duration of their respective tenures, shared a not unusual commitment to restoring peace and balance to Nigeria.”

Eze asked Nigerians to “disregard any misinterpretation remarks”, adding that the previous president remains committed to peace, unity, and the strengthening of democratic values in Nigeria.