Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan revealed on Friday that Boko Haram insurgents had once nominated former President Muhammadu Buhari to represent them in peace talks with the Federal Government. This disclosure came during the public presentation of “Scars,” a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), in Abuja.
Jonathan explained that his administration had established various committees to explore dialogue with Boko Haram. He noted that the insurgents’ nomination of Buhari as their negotiator suggested that negotiations could have been easier when Buhari took office, yet the insurgency continued.
He remarked, “One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government. So I was feeling that if they nominated Buhari to represent them, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them.”
Jonathan emphasized the complexity of the Boko Haram crisis, stating that it was not merely a straightforward issue. He expressed disappointment that despite his hopes for a resolution under Buhari’s presidency, Boko Haram remains active.
He further asserted that the insurgency was more complicated than commonly understood and that different strategies were required to address it effectively. Jonathan identified the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 as a significant scar on his administration and expressed hope that future revelations from Boko Haram leaders could shed light on the group’s motives.
Jonathan suggested that a carrot-and-stick approach might be necessary to tackle the insurgency, citing the sophisticated weapons used by Boko Haram as evidence of external support beyond mere hunger or poverty.
He concluded by calling for a reassessment of strategies to confront the Boko Haram challenge, urging collaboration among military officials to document the group’s history and motivations for better understanding.
