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I never said Buhari was involved with Boko Haram – Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted media stories alleging that he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of links to Boko Haram, asserting that his statements were misinterpreted.
In a Saturday statement issued by his media spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan denied ever suggesting, implying, or indicating that Buhari had any involvement with or support for the terrorist organization.
The clarification addressed backlash from Jonathan’s comments delivered on Friday during the unveiling of *Scars*, a memoir by retired Chief of Defence Staff Lucky Irabor. There, Jonathan recounted how Boko Haram had once listed Buhari among potential representatives for negotiations with the government.
READ ALSO: Jonathan: If you hurt me I will forgive you
Serving as Nigeria’s leader from 2010 to 2015, Jonathan noted that this reference occurred after his administration formed panels to explore talks with the insurgents.
However, Garba Shehu, Buhari’s former media adviser, rejected the narrative as inaccurate and driven by partisan motives.
Eze elaborated that Jonathan’s words were intended to expose Boko Haram’s cunning approaches, not to incriminate Buhari. The statement read: “The Office of Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has noted inaccurate coverage in some media outlets claiming that he stated Boko Haram selected the late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, as their negotiator with the government, implying some role in the insurgency.
“We want to stress that the former President’s words were seriously distorted. He never indicated, suggested, or hinted at any ties between President Buhari and Boko Haram, or any endorsement of the group.
“Dr. Jonathan’s observations, part of a wider conversation on national security issues, aimed to demonstrate the cunning and scheming methods Boko Haram used in its initial phases.
“He was referring to a known incident where supposed representatives of the group, along with splinter elements, falsely positioned themselves as spokespeople and named high-profile Nigerians as mediators—often without those persons’ awareness or agreement.
“The core message was how Boko Haram deliberately used the reputations of notable figures to create discord, widen political rifts, and erode trust in authorities.
“Thus, his statement exemplified the terrorists’ trickery, not a charge against the late former president or anyone else.
“Dr. Jonathan emphasized that if Buhari were truly their preferred intermediary, one might expect the group’s violent campaign to have ended swiftly during his presidency. To be clear, Dr. Jonathan acknowledges President Muhammadu Buhari’s, like any loyal citizen’s, resolute opposition to terror; he was even a victim of Boko Haram attacks. Both leaders, in their times, worked toward national peace and security.”
Eze called on the public to disregard the altered narratives, reaffirming Jonathan’s dedication to fostering harmony, national cohesion, and strengthening democratic institutions in Nigeria.
Tiwa Savage, the renowned singer, disclosed that she originally dismissed “Dorobucci,” a major hit from Mavin Records, as a poor track when she first encountered it, not realizing she would end up contributing to it.
During a NotJustOk interview released on Monday, the celebrated performer remembered how Don Jazzy kept looping the song in a Dubai hotel while she was on her wedding getaway.
READ ALSO: Davido threatened to send boys to harm Tiwa Savage, mother of my son – Teebillz
“Don’t know if people know this, but Dorobucci, I had Don Jazzy playing that in the hotel when we were in Dubai for my wedding and I didn’t want to tell him, but I thought it was such a crap song,” she said.
Tiwa described how Don Jazzy repeatedly played the tune during the trip, without her knowing it was being crafted for the Mavin team.
“And so after the wedding, he asked me when I was going to come back and I need to come back. And I was like, no, I think we’re supposed to go on our honeymoon.
“He’s like, eh, there’s one record, you have to come back to Nigeria,”Tiwa recounted.
She shared that upon arriving back in Nigeria and listening to the complete track in the studio, she was completely taken aback.
“I got back to Nigeria and I got to the studio and I heard the song that I heard him play in Dubai. I was flabbergasted.
“I was so angry, like, I don’t know, because this had happened with Eminado too and I did not like it,” she said.
Tiwa mentioned that she recorded her part last because she doubted the song’s viability.
“I was the last person to record my verse because I was just looking at everybody in the studio, like, do you guys like this really?
“So everybody had recorded it and then I was just the last person to record it,” she said.
Even though she was hesitant at first, the track achieved enormous popularity.
“We all know what happened to the record. I don’t know what Don Jazzy does, but yeah, that was… I heard it and I didn’t want to tell him.
“I was like, man, who, I was like, is it Reekado he’s doing this song for? Is it Korede or D’Prince?
“I was just thinking, ehyaa, like these people, not knowing that I was going to be on the song as well. And it turned out to be phenomenal. So shout out as always to Don Jazzy,” Tiwa concluded.
Olusegun Dada, who serves as Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, has strongly rebuked U.S. Congressman Riley Moore for his statements alleging a systematic genocide targeting Christians in Nigeria.
In a message shared on X, Dada accused Moore of lacking understanding about the actual circumstances and daily experiences of people in Nigeria.
He emphasized that Nigerians of all faiths and backgrounds are regarded equally and united.
Moore’s accusations follow comparable assertions from another U.S. politician, Ted Cruz, who introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act in the United States.
READ ALSO: FG halts all Christians from pilgrimage to Israel over conflict with Iran
In his bill, Cruz advocated for penalties against Nigerian officials implicated in the purported murders of Christians nationwide.
After Cruz’s initiative gained momentum, Moore labeled Nigeria as “the deadliest country in the world for Christians” to live in.
“Since Boko Haram’s insurgency in 2009, more than 50,000 Christians have been murdered and more than 5 million displaced. At least 250 priests have been attacked or killed in the last decade and more than 19,000 churches have been attacked or destroyed since 2009.”
The U.S. representative also pressed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pursue designating Nigeria, the most populous country in West Africa, as a “Country of Particular Concern” based on reports of Christian persecution.
Amid the growing attention to Cruz’s bill, Dada quickly addressed Moore’s latest assertion, describing Nigeria as a country founded on religious devotion and the enduring strength of its people.
He posted on X, “Firstly, let me say, Congressman Riley, you are ignorant if not more ignorant than Ted Cruz about Nigeria.
Dada further pointed out that no religious group in Nigeria faces the kind of threat described by the two American politicians.
The aide to the president highlighted that the current government under President Tinubu prioritizes national cohesion and inclusion for every segment of society.
“Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side — not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us.
”I hope #TuckerCarlson can ask #tedcruz this line of questions again, but this time about Nigeria. Ted Cruz wanted the states to go to war with Iran, but he didn’t know the population or the cultural makeup of Iran. Same total ignorance about Nigeria,” Dada added.
The Senate held its first session on Tuesday following a 10-week break, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
A key figure present was Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator from Kogi Central facing controversy, marking her comeback after a six-month ban.
READ ALSO: NASS initiates new security protocols around senate president Akpabio’s office
In a gesture of global support, several senators entered wearing outfits in Palestinian hues, pushing for Palestinian independence.
On July 24, the Senate and House of Representatives paused for their yearly legislative hiatus.
Committees, both temporary and permanent, were urged to keep working over the pause. Akpabio advised members to wrap up outstanding reports and perform supervisory roles during this time.
The break was set for two months, with a planned restart on September 23, 2025.
But on that date, the National Assembly delayed full sessions by an extra two weeks.
Plenary activities were rescheduled to begin on October 7 instead.
This yearly pause is standard in the National Assembly’s schedule, letting legislators juggle federal work with local engagements and private matters.
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