Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports suggesting that he linked former President Muhammadu Buhari to the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents during or after his administration.
In a statement issued by his media office on Saturday, Jonathan described the claims as “false, malicious, and misleading,” stressing that he never made such an allegation against his successor.
The former president, who governed Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, said attempts to attribute such statements to him were “politically motivated fabrications” aimed at causing unnecessary tension and rewriting history.
“Dr. Jonathan has never, at any forum, linked former President Buhari with Boko Haram or accused him of sponsoring terrorism. Any insinuation to the contrary is a deliberate misrepresentation intended to drag his name into needless controversy,” the statement read.
Jonathan also cautioned politicians and commentators against spreading falsehoods capable of heating up the polity, urging Nigerians to remain focused on issues that promote unity and national development.
He reiterated his commitment to peace building across Africa, noting that his work as a statesman and peace mediator requires him to avoid divisive rhetoric.
“Having left office, my focus has been on strengthening democracy, peace, and stability on the continent. I will not be distracted by baseless attempts to create discord where there should be reconciliation.”
The clarification comes amid renewed public debates over the handling of the Boko Haram insurgency during previous administrations, with different camps trading blame over the origins and escalation of the crisis.
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