The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Garba Shehu, made the clarification in Abuja, on Thursday.
In a statement he signed, Shehu said Buhari never made such a promise, adding that he would require time to study the situation as soon as he assumed office to put in place an effective strategy of dealing with the situation.
Shehu said, “His Excellency, the President-elect is still waiting to be sworn in on May 29. After the ceremony, he would need time to study the security situation and plan strategically with the security chiefs as to the way forward. Time is of essence here.
“Therefore, President Buhari didn’t and wouldn’t peg the decimation of terrorism from the country’s territories to just two months.
“The General was unequivocal about cleansing Boko Haram from our land; he would do a good job of it by giving a final, permanent push to rid Nigeria of unscrupulous elements.”
He added, “The President-elect said that much to the world media including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Cable News Network.
“He never put a time-frame to when he would eliminate terrorists. It would be unfair and mischievous for someone to ascribe to him what he hasn’t said.”