Ex-Presidential Aide Says Buhari Was Targeted, Not Supported, by Boko Haram
Former Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has strongly dismissed recent claims made by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, alleging that Boko Haram once nominated Muhammadu Buhari to represent them in negotiations with the federal government.
In a statement released on Friday night, Shehu described Jonathan’s remark as false and misleading, stressing that Buhari was in fact a direct target of Boko Haram attacks.
Shehu Counters Jonathan’s Allegation
According to Shehu, Buhari narrowly escaped a deadly bomb attack in Kaduna in 2014, which was carried out by Boko Haram insurgents. The attack left several members of Buhari’s personal staff with varying degrees of injuries.
“Muhammadu Buhari was never nominated by Boko Haram for any dialogue with government. In fact, Abubakar Shekau, the group’s late leader, consistently denounced and threatened Buhari,” Shehu stated.
He further argued that the ideologies of Buhari and Boko Haram were diametrically opposed, making Jonathan’s claim both illogical and unfounded.
“A False Start for 2027”
Shehu also hinted that Jonathan’s statement might be tied to a possible political comeback in 2027, warning him against using Buhari’s name to score campaign points.
“If this is a campaign statement towards his bid for the presidency in 2027, we want to say to him that, Mr Jonathan, you are making a false start,” Shehu added.
The exchange has since generated heated discussions, reigniting old debates around Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and the roles of past leaders in tackling Boko Haram.
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