Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed reports claiming he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of having ties with Boko Haram, insisting his comments were misrepresented.

In a statement on Saturday by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said he “never suggested or implied that Buhari had any connection with the terrorist group or supported it in any way.”

The controversy followed Jonathan’s remarks on Friday at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lucky Irabor. During the event, Jonathan recalled that Boko Haram once nominated Buhari, his successor, to negotiate on their behalf with the federal government.

Jonathan, who governed from 2010 to 2015, explained that the insurgents mentioned Buhari’s name after his administration set up committees for peace talks.

However, Garba Shehu, former spokesperson to Buhari, countered Jonathan’s comments, describing them as “false and politically motivated.”