Nigeria News Today: Jonathan Reveals Boko Haram Once Nominated Buhari for Peace Talks

By Enemona Samuel Endurance for The Bureau News

The Bureau News reports that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has disclosed that the Boko Haram terrorist group once nominated former President Muhammadu Buhari to represent them in peace negotiations with the Federal Government.

Jonathan made the revelation on Friday in Abuja during the public presentation of *Scars*, a book written by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.). The former president said that his administration had set up multiple committees to explore dialogue with the insurgents, and that in one instance, the group specifically named Buhari as their preferred negotiator.

According to Jonathan, this development made him believe that Buhari’s later emergence as president in 2015 would make it easier for the government to reach a peace deal with Boko Haram. However, the insurgency persisted, showing that the problem was “far more complex than many think.” (Reuters)

“Buhari Was Nominated by Boko Haram”

“One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government,” Jonathan said. “So I was feeling that if they nominated Buhari to represent them and have a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.”

Jonathan on the Complexity of the Crisis

Jonathan explained that Boko Haram’s insurgency was deeper than the narratives of poverty or hunger often used to explain it. He said his administration adopted various strategies — from peace talks to intelligence-driven operations — but the results remained limited. He emphasized that the issue required a multi-dimensional approach involving dialogue and force. (BBC)

“If you conduct research and interview many people, you will only get part of the story, but never the full story of Boko Haram,” he said. “The issue is complex and not a single narrative. But I believe, as a nation, we have to look at Boko Haram differently from the conventional approach.”

“Chibok Abduction Is a Scar I Will Die With”

Reflecting on the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction, Jonathan described it as a “permanent scar” on his administration. He expressed hope that one day, Boko Haram’s leaders would document their motives so that Nigerians can understand the group’s true origins and objectives.

“It is a scar I will die with,” Jonathan said. “But perhaps later, more details may become known. I pray that one day, some of the Boko Haram leaders may be literate enough to document what they have done so that people will truly understand what they wanted.”

Nigeria News Today: Jonathan Urges New Approach

Jonathan urged the current administration to consider a “carrot-and-stick” approach, noting that Boko Haram’s access to sophisticated weapons showed that the group’s funding and logistics extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. He said, “If you look at the weapons they use and the value of those weapons, you know these are not hungry people. The issue has external hands involved.”

He called for renewed strategies under the current Defence Ministry to address root causes, intelligence failures, and external influences that sustain the insurgency. (The Bureau News – Nigeria News Today)

Follow The Bureau News for more verified coverage and expert analysis on Nigeria News Today, national security, and political affairs.