We Never Negotiated With Boko Haram–Jonathan

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday said his government did not negotiate with the deadly terrorists group called Boko Haram.

Jonathan made this known at a world press conference held at the Geneva Press Club in Switzerland.

He pointed out that if his administration had contacted leaders of the sect, a programme would have been put in place like the Amnesty for the Niger Delta militants.

The former Nigerian leader said the only negotiation done by his government was with the South South militants, who were bombing oil installations in the region.
“We did not negotiate with Boko Haram. The government never set up a negotiation team. People do all sorts of things in the name of politics with very serious national issues.

“The group we negotiated with was the militants in the Niger Delta and we came up with the Amnesty Programme because they had identity.

“If we had negotiated with Boko Haram, we would have come up with a programme,” he said at the event.

Jonathan also said he is ready to work with President Muhammadu Buhari when called upon, emphasising that “I cannot throw myself to the government.”

While speaking on the alleged missing billions, the former President said such figures being mentioned could not have developed wings during his 5-year tenure because “Nigeria would have collapsed if that happened.”

Jonathan promised to speak on what he knows at the right time.

“The truth will still come out. These figures that are being mentioned I don’t want to go into them. Let the security and court sort out these issues. At the appropriate time I will speak. But the figures are quite alarming,” the ex-President said.