Former President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that Boko Haram once nominated former President Muhammadu Buhari to represent them in peace negotiations with the Nigerian government during his administration.
Speaking at the public presentation of a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), Jonathan expressed surprise that despite the nomination, the insurgency persisted during Buhari’s tenure.
“I felt that Muhammadu Buhari would have negotiated with Boko Haram to stop the killings since the sect once nominated him to represent them during a peace talk with the Federal Government,” Jonathan said. He added that his administration had established several committees to explore dialogue with the group.
Jonathan described the insurgency as a complex issue, beyond poverty and hunger, highlighting the sophisticated weapons used by Boko Haram and the possibility of external involvement during his presidency. He also referred to the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 as a permanent scar on his administration.
He urged the current administration to consider a different approach, blending both dialogue and military strategies, to effectively address the insurgency. “Issue of carrots and the stick may be adopted…if you value the weapons they use, then you know these are not hungry people,” Jonathan said.
Boko Haram, which emerged in the early 2000s in Borno State, escalated its violent campaign after the death of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009. The group became notorious for bombings, abductions, and attacks on civilians and military targets. Reports indicated that in 2012, Boko Haram had named Buhari among respected northern leaders they trusted for mediation, but he publicly rejected the offer at the time.
Jonathan’s revelation at the book presentation, attended by high-profile officials, highlights the need for a nuanced and comprehensive strategy to end the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria.
