Boko Haram didn’t nominate Buhari as mediator, Garba Shehu replies Jonathan

Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesman, on Friday, denied the claims, describing them as a desperate attempt by Jonathan to gain traction for his potential 2027 presidential bid.

“To be president in 2027, Goodluck Jonathan should look for another story to tell Nigerians,” Shehu said.

According to Shehu, Jonathan’s claims are baseless and lack evidence.

“Muhammed Yusuf or Abubakar Shekau, the deceased leaders of the Boko Haram terrorist group, never nominated Muhammadu Buhari for any such role,” Shehu said.

He emphasised that Buhari and Boko Haram have been in direct opposition, with Shekau routinely denouncing and threatening Buhari.

Shehu also highlighted the 2014 bomb attack in Kaduna that targeted Buhari, in which his personal staff suffered various degrees of injury.

“Buhari’s campaigns focused on fighting Boko Haram and restoring security to Nigeria whenever he became president, putting him in direct opposition to the terrorist group’s leader,” Shehu added.

The controversy surrounding Buhari’s alleged nomination was previously addressed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari’s party at the time. The party denied knowledge of his alleged nomination as a mediator, stating that Buhari had not been contacted by anyone regarding the matter.

Furthermore, Shehu slammed Jonathan’s claims, saying, “We are compelled to make a response to a terrible statement made on the late president Muhammadu Buhari by his predecessor in office, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to the effect that Boko Haram had nominated him to represent them in a dialogue with government.”

He urged Jonathan to focus on his legacy and the challenges facing the country rather than making unsubstantiated claims.