Abuja – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 remains a permanent scar on his administration. Speaking at the public presentation of “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,” a book by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), Jonathan expressed his hope that Boko Haram leaders would eventually document their actions to clarify the insurgency’s motives.
Jonathan also claimed that Boko Haram insurgents once nominated Muhammadu Buhari, then a retired General, to represent them in negotiations with the federal government. He said this led him to believe that the insurgency would end under Buhari’s presidency. He expressed surprise that Buhari’s administration was unable to eradicate Boko Haram, suggesting the crisis was more complex than often portrayed. Jonathan urged the current administration to consider a “carrot-and-stick” approach to address the insurgency. He also stated that the issue of Boko Haram was beyond hunger, pointing to the sophisticated weapons they use as evidence that external forces were involved.
Garba Shehu Denies Jonathan’s Claims
In response to Jonathan’s remarks, former presidential spokesman Garba Shehu issued a statement refuting the claim that Boko Haram ever nominated Buhari as a mediator. Shehu called Jonathan’s statement “terrible” and suggested it was a false start to a potential 2027 presidential campaign. He asserted that Boko Haram leaders Muhammed Yusuf and Abubakar Shekau never nominated Buhari and that Shekau routinely denounced and threatened Buhari. Shehu recalled that Buhari survived a Boko Haram bomb attack in 2014.
Shehu referenced a 2012 statement by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari’s party at the time, which denied his alleged nomination by the terrorist group. He also stated that Rotimi Fashakin, the late CPC publicity secretary, accused Jonathan’s administration of exploiting the claim for political reasons.
Other Reactions
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo called for new thinking to end the Boko Haram insurgency. He emphasized the need to understand the group’s objectives and address the root causes of the conflict. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto said that Leah Sharibu and every unaccounted-for Nigerian child in the insurgency incidents are a scar on Nigeria. He also faulted the federal government for naming the insurgents Boko Haram. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, countered Kukah’s claim, clarifying that jihad does not mean a Muslim must kill a non-Muslim.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, said that General Irabor’s book provides guidance and serves as a roadmap for the nation to build a safer future. Former National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno called for a collective effort against Boko Haram, identifying defective governance and impaired national cohesion as factors hampering peace in the country.
