The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, during his recent visit to Ekiti State, entertained a couple of questions from journalists, especially as they have to do with the fortune of his party. Deputy Editor, SAM NWAOKO, brings excerpts from the brief interaction.
What are you doing about the critical condition your party is currently in?
What do you mean by ‘critical condition’?
A lot of people believe that the PDP is crippled and is in a serious crisis?
Ali Modu Sheriff
I don’t think that statement is true. Since the time I came into the party, we have participated in about four elections and we have won in each of the elections. We won two senatorial seats in Kogi State. We won in Benue State. We won in Akwa Ibom State and we won fully in Bayelsa State. So, I don’t understand where the notion came from. A party that is crippled does not win elections. Our party is standing and that is the reason we are winning in all the elections we have participated in.
However, we are repositioning the party. That has to be stated. We lost elections. That is normal. When you go through life without any form of challenge or problem, you will be wondering if you would not just die one day. But when you are having problems on the way and getting up, you will be getting stronger, learning and getting better. So, what is happening to the PDP today is that it is getting even better than in 1999. We are in the opposition and we are winning in every election. We have won in five different elections and in some of them, we won all. So, I can’t agree that our party is getting crippled. No. Our party had a problem and the problem was losing the presidential election. But since that election, we have bounced back and won elections again.
What is your view on the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war that has been alleged to be selective and one-sided?
The PDP as a party supports all forms of anti-corruption crusade. However, we believe that it should be all the way through. We support the fight against corruption but it should not be one-sided. Corruption in all ramifications is evil. We don’t support corruption. But that corruption fight must be for every party and no exception…PDP, APC, APGA, all the political parties, because our party is a law-abiding party. Our party was in government for 16 years and the anti-corruption law itself was made by the PDP. In 1999, the law that set up the anti-corruption agencies was passed when I was a leader in the Senate.
Prominent members of your party are leaving and joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) less than one year after your party lost elections. Some others are said to be planning to leave. What message do you have for such politicians?
The answer is very simple: anybody leaving a political party because it lost elections is not a politician. True politicians don’t leave their parties. So, does it mean that when we win, they would again run back to the PDP? See what a person like Ayo Fayose went through in the PDP. He was detained and made to experience all forms of persecution at the hands of the leaders of his own party and yet he stood firm. In the end, the judiciary said he was free and vindicated him as having not committed any crime just as the people of Ekiti State re-elected him as their governor. If he was the kind of person that is jumping up and down political parties or something like that, he wouldn’t have the courage to face the people and all of them shouting ‘Oshoko’ everywhere he went. That is because he has remained steadfast and that is the hallmark of a good politician.
A number of people reacted negatively to your emergence as the national chairman of the PDP. How do you see this?
That is normal in every society or group of people. Not everyone would accept you. What is a democracy? It is a government of the people by the people and for the people. There is no way in a democracy that you won’t have opposition. Even as my brother, Ayo Fayose, is being loved by everybody, including children, there are still those who do not like him. So, it is normal in a democracy. People will have to air their views but the bottom line is that the minority will always have their say and the majority will have their way.
Hope of resolving the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party over the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party has taken another turn as two members of a group in the main opposition party have asked an Abuja High Court to compel Sheriff to vacate office by the end of March.
Ali Modu Sheriff
They are also seeking an order of the court to compel the party’s national leadership not to hold the forthcoming national convention until the membership register of the party is computerised as stipulated in section 8(11) of its constitution.
The National Executive Committee of the party had fixed the convention, which is to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for May 21, 2016.
But the suit, dated March 8, which is aimed at stopping the meeting and the sacking of Sheriff, was filed by Mr. Nwosu Emmanuel and Mr. Eze Silas on behalf of the Restart PDP Group.
By implication, Sheriff and other members of the National Working Committee will be in office till May 2016, instead of March when their tenure ought to end.
Former ministers, who served during the party’s 16-year reign at the centre and the PDP Restart Group are, however, insisting that Sheriff and his management team should vacate office on March 31.
However, according to a copy of the originating summons, with suit number CV/1174/16, filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja, Emmanuel and Silas are the plaintiffs while the PDP, Sheriff and the NWC are the first, second and third defendants respectively.
Prayers being sought before the court is an order “restraining the 1st defendant, 3rd defendant and the current national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (Senator Ali Modu Sheriff) and all other national officers of the Peoples Democratic Party, whose tenure of office shall expire in March 2016 in line with the party’s constitution, from unlawfully extending their tenure of office beyond the mandatory four years term expressly stipulated in Section 47(1) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
They also seeking an order “restraining the defendants, all officers and organs of the 1st defendant from parading or further parading the tenure of office of the 2nd defendant or any officers or organs of the 1st defendant, whose tenure of office shall expire in March 2016 in line with the party’s constitution, as having been expired beyond March 2016.”
While asking the court for a declaration on the tenure of Sheriff, they noted that Sheriff “having emerged to complete the unexpired constitutionally-stipulated four years terms of the last former national chairman of the party and his immediate predecessor respectively (Alh. Adamu Mu’azu and Alh. Bamanga Tukur), whose tenure jointly ought to expire in March 2016, should vacate office in March, 2016 as any extension of his tenure shall contravene the provisions of sections 2 and 47(1) and (6) of the constitution of the party”.
Seeking an order to stop the May 21 convention, they pleaded with the court to compel the party to give effect to Section 8 (11) of the constitution, which provides that a membership register of the party should be computerised.
The plaintiffs asked the court to restrain “the first defendant and all its organs from conducting party congress and 2016 national convention or other further national conventions pending the computerisation of the party membership register as mandatorily stipulated in Section 8(11) of the party’s constitution.
Section 8 (11) of PDP’s constitution reads, “The party membership register shall be computerised to ensure control and to avoid fraud and all ward registers shall be closed one month to congresses.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
When contacted, the spokesman for the Restart PDP Group, Chief Jackson Ude, said the suit became necessary to ensure that the PDP allowed the constitution of the party to prevail instead of a “back-door agreement by few selfish individuals in the party.”
He added, “If the PDP constitution says Bamanga Tukur and Adamu Mu’azu’s tenure, which Ali Modu Sheriff is concluding expires on March 28, so be it.
“Let him and members of the NWC leave so the party can cleanse itself and begin on a new slate
“We must go back to the rule of law and the constitution. The impunity within the party is because few individuals decided on their own to jettison the constitution for their own selfish interest. All well-meaning members of the PDP must insist on the constitution.”
The National Executive Committee, NEC, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, resolved to bring the term of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led executive of the party to an end on May 21.
The party’s NEC, at the end of its 69th regular meeting also took umbrage at what it described as the large-scale human rights abuses in the country and resolved to stand with all those the party claimed were being oppressed.
The party in furtherance of that goal called for the immediate release of the four PDP members of Ekiti State House of Assembly who the party alleged are unjustly being held by security agencies of the Federal Government.
The party’s assertions came as the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, vowed that the party would mobilise all its resources to ensure that it stops the country from drifting towards totalitarianism.
Ekweremadu, in his welcome remarks at the NEC meeting, yesterday, also lauded the party on its string of successes in recent re-run elections.
The National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the appointment of Hon. Inuwa Bwala as the Special Assistant (Media) to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday signed by the National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo
The Party also appointed Hon. Shettima Sheu as the Special assistant on Special Duties
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the newly elected Chairman, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff is substantive and not acting National Chairman of the party contrary to speculations by a section of the media (not NAIJA CENTER NEWS)
The PDP spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh in a communique released on Thursday made the confirmation.
Metuh said “His appointment by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party in its 68th meeting last Tuesday, to replace Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, who resigned as National Chairman, is in line with section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution, which empowers NEC to fill a vacant position with a person from the zone where the officer originated from.
The PDP therefore urges the media and members of the public to note this accordingly.
The National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party may have settled for Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the next chairman of the party.
Ali Modu Sheriff
The former governor of Borno State and a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, were drafted into the race by the members of the party’s National Caucus in Abuja at their meeting which ended in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja.
The meeting was held at Ondo Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro.
It was attended by governors of the party and others.
Again, members of the National Caucus met on Tuesday afternoon at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja..
Members of the Board of Trustees of the party are currently meeting to discuss to either reject or accept the former governor as the party’s chairman.
Our correspondent gathered that at the end of the BoT meeting, members of the National Executive would meet.
The former governor was said to have been chosen because of his experience.
“He (Sheriff) has money. He is fearless and he has the capacity to galvanise the north for the PDP”, a member of the PDP National Working Committee told our correspondent.
The spokesperson for PDP, Olisa Metuh, later addressed journalists at the Abuja’s Wadata plaza secretariat of the party, on Tuesday, said all organs of the party, including, the national caucus, PDP governors’ forum and the national assembly caucuses agreed on the choice of Mr. Sherffi, who is also a former senator.
Mr. Metuh said the decision would be communicated to the Board of Trustees and subsequently, the National Executive Committee, NEC, for ratification before a formal announcement would be made.
Mr. Sherrif, who is replacing Ahmadu Mu’azu, the former chairman who resigned shortly after the polls, has been a controversial figure amid allegations he funded and sponsored the extremist sect, Boko Haram. He denies the allegation.
ABUJA — Barely a week after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, threatened to declare him wanted over alleged laundering of over N300 billion during his tenure, the former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, last night voluntarily surrendered to the agency for interrogation.
Ali Modu Sheriff
The former governor walked into the hands of his interrogators at the commission’s head office in Abuja at 6pm and was immediately taken in.
A top source at the commission confirmed to Vanguard that Sheriff was quizzed over N300 billion allegedly taken from the coffers of the state without any work done with it as claimed by his administration.
“We want the former governor to also explain to us how N13 billion taken from local government joint account in the state was used and what it was used for,” the source said.
Sheriff is alleged to have claimed that his administration used the sum to execute some infrastructural projects to prepare the ground for the inauguration of the administration of his successor in 2011.
But the anti-graft agency said last night that no such project was executed and the money not accounted for in addition to the N13 billion said to have vanished form the state’s local government joint account.
“I can confirm to you that the former governor of Borno State is with us and we cannot say for how long our operatives will keep him. We really want to know the truth from him before deciding on whether there is enough evidence to charge him to court or not,” the official said.
Last week, the commission had served notice of his intention to declare Sheriff wanted if he continued to ignore his invitations.
Sheriff is the second former governor to surrender voluntarily this week to answer questions bordering on their tenure.
Former Adamawa governor, Murtala Nyako, surrendered on Monday and has been admitted to bail on personal recognition over N15 billion fund alleged to have been laundered during his administration.
The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has described as absurd the allegation of fraud against him by his predecessor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, saying the former governor has no moral standing to tag him as a corrupt person.
Sheriff and Shettima
The governor spoke through his media aide, Alhaji Isa Gusau, on Tuesday.
Gusau said the description was an “irony, laughable and absurd,” claiming that the ex-governor was practically broke before assuming office in 2003, but left “office as perhaps the richest man in Borno State and one of the richest former governors in the country.”
The governor’s spokesman was reacting to an allegation by the former governor in a press briefing in Maiduguri on Monday that Shettima was corrupt.
Gusau said, “I think of all Nigerians that held public offices in the country, one man that should seal his lips whenever issues of corrupt practices are being discussed is former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.
“Everybody knew he was broke before he became a governor in 2003. Today, he is practically the richest former Governor in Nigeria, who was reported by Thisday Newspaper in 2012, to have acquired a jet worth N11bn for his luxury and he was said to be the first African to have procured such a jet as an individual.
“This is a man that has never flown in a commercial flight in the last 10 or more years within Nigeria because he has fleets of jets he owns. This is someone that cannot survive outside the corridor of power from the days of military.
“It is really shocking that of all people, Sheriff can open his mouth to accuse any Nigerian of corruption, let alone a good and prudent man like Governor Kashim Shettima, who has won the hearts of so many with his numerous works for his people despite security challenges in Borno.”
Ali Modu Sheriff, the former governor of Borno State who is alleged to be funding the violent Boko Haram militancy in the Northeast, arrived in the state capital today with over 200 soldiers in his convoy.
Ali Sheriff
He was in town to pay a condolence visit on a friend who lost his mother.
Mr. Sheriff ignited a political firestorm only last week when he showed up in meetings in Chad with President Goodluck Jonathan and his Chadian counterpart, Idris Derby.
That revelation brought the Nigerian president under a serious political backlash. The public outcry forced Mr. Jonathan to declare publicly he will not interfere with the investigation of Mr. Sheriff by the State Security Services.
Mr. Sheriff’s foray into Maiduguri in stunning force late following his arrival on a private jet shocked residents who were suddenly swamped by a massive convoy of soldiers, making many to speculate that the Chief of Defense Staff, Alex bade, was in town.
Mr. Sheriff made the even more astonishing announcement to close pals that he was merely visiting an associate, Kassim Imam, who lost his mother a few days ago.
Analysts say Mr. Sheriff’s possession and open demonstration of such lavish federal force and protection reopens the question as to his real relationship with Mr. Jonathan, and the future of any investigation of the sponsors of Boko Haram.
Some Maiduguri residents and political observers expressed surprise about Mr. Sheriff’s huge convoy in view of Mr. Jonathan’s denials. They wondered why 200 soldiers that should be fighting against Boko Haram, the sect Sheriff is allegedly funding, should instead be protecting him.
Efforts to obtain comments from presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, who issued a statement denying that Mr. Sheriff was in Chad with Mr. Jonathan, met with failure.
The All Progressives Congress has accused the presidency of not saying the truth in its response to the condemnation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s relationship with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, alleged to be sponsoring Boko Haram.
Lai Mohammed, APC
The party’s position was contained in a statement issued in Dubai on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
This was in response to an earlier statement by the Presidency that President Jonathan will not interfere with ongoing investigations against the former Borno State governor.
The APC said the Presidency’s defence of Sheriff’s presence at President Jonathan’s meeting with President Idris Deby of Chad confirmed its position that the Presidency was protecting Sheriff.
The party also said that the Presidency’s statement on the matter matched the one given by Sheriff’s spokesman.
The party, however, called for the trial of Sheriff and other alleged Boko Haram sponsors by the International Criminal Court, instead of the Nigerian security agencies, which it said were under Jonathan’s control.
The statement read in part, “President Jonathan lacks the courage to investigate and prosecute the accused, who are his friends.
“How can you prosecute a person who accompanies you on a high level security meeting to a foreign head of state?”
The party also dismissed claims by the Presidency that it will not interfere in Sheriff’s investigation by security agencies.
APC also questioned the President for allegedly circulating the picture of Sheriff and himself at such a high level meeting and the message it would send to the security agencies.
After the dilemma the presidential delegation was allegedly thrown into when they arrived the Chadian capital and found that the former Borno State governor was not only in Chad but was also part of the Chadian President’s delegation that came to receive the president at the airport, more facts have emerged on why Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the former governor of Borno State was in Ndjamena, Chad during the visit of President Jonathan to the country recently.
President Jonathan, Ali Modu Sheriff & President Deby of Chad on Monday in Ndjamena
According to Saturday Vanguard’s investigations, Senator Modu Sheriff is deeply entrenched in the affairs of Nigeria’s north eastern neighbour more than it is publicly known to most Nigerians. According to a senior government official who was privy to the president’s trip to Chad, Senator Modu Sheriff is not only entrenched in the economic and political affairs of Chad he also exerts influence in the highest office of the land.
According to the official who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, ‘what many Nigerians do not know is that Senator Modu Sheriff is a personal friend of the Chadian president for over ten years. He is a regular visitor to the presidential Villa in N’Djamena who does not need any special security clearance to go into the official residence of the president of Chad. He was in Chad several days before the president went and he was not only part of President Idriss Deby’s delegation to receive the president but was also allowed access to the tarmac as any other top officials of that country.
Saturday Vanguard’s investigation revealed that Senator Sheriff’s influence in Chad stems from the fact that he has extensive investment in Chad and he is also treated with respect with the government and the people of Chad because of his popularity.
“What Nigerians don’t know is the fact that the decision to allow the former Borno governor to the airport and to the presidential waiting room at the airport was entirely that of the Chadian Government and its security services. The Nigerian delegation had nothing to do with that. He came with Chadian president as a friend who happened to be a Nigerian. President Jonathan needed the cooperation of the Chadian Government to block Boko Haram terrorists from using Chad as a launch base to attack Nigeria or as a route to bring in illegal weapons.
Even if he was not comfortable with being publicly identified with the former governor of Borno state because of recent Boko Haram controversy around him, it was not his decision to make to his host, who to bring with him to the airport. The only point where the Nigerian authority had powers to decide was at the bilateral security meeting between the two countries. It was purely a security matter and only the two presidents and their security chiefs were involved in the meetings. The assertion that the former governor of Borno state was part of the meeting between Nigeria and Chad to discuss about Boko Haram is completely wrong and incorrect”.
At the peak of the Boko Haram’s confrontation with security forces in 2009 which led to the death of its founder, Mallam Yusuf; Modu Sheriff’s name featured prominently as one of the sponsors of the sect which some people argued, outgrew his control. Even after he left office, Modu Sheriff remained on the radar as one person many Nigerians believe, rightly or other wise, as knowing more than he is willing to admit about the Boko Haram sect.
This perception was given further fillip earlier this year when an Australian security expert and negotiator, Stephen Davis pointedly accused Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika of being major sponsors of the Boko Haram sect.
The spokesperson to President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati has debunked the alarm raised by the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the president took the former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff to Chad.
President Jonathan, Ali Modu Sheriff & President Deby of Chad on Monday in Ndjamena
The APC had earlier accused President Jonathan of hobnobbing with Boko Haram sponsors due to a photo of President Jonathan, tweeted by his aides where Sheriff was sighted.
Reacting to the accusation through his numerous tweet on Thursday, the Mr. Abati said Sheriff was already in Ndajamena and only joined other Nigerians in Chad at the airport to welcome the President.
He also disclosed that the former governor did not participate in anything.
He said ”The claim that the President is “hobnobbing” with the former Borno State Gov is totally erroneous & spurious.’
“President Jonathan did not take Modu Sheriff to Chad, will not interfere with investigation of accusation him.
“Names of key members of President’s delegation to Chad were announced a day before the trip. As can be verified, that list never changed.The only other persons on the list were the President’s aides, security personnel and journalists.
“Senator Sheriff has longstanding interests in Chad and often spends a lot of time there. He happened to be in Ndjamena at the time.
“He joined other Nigerians resident in Chad in coming to the airport to welcome President Jonathan.
“The pics which formed the basis of the bogus allegation were taken at the airport. Sheriff’s presence was not at Pres. Jonathan’s instance.
“And he did not participate in any of the President’s discussions with President Idriss Deby Itno.
“President Jonathan is fully aware of the allegation made against Senator Sheriff by Stephen Davis, being investigated by security agencies.
“The President will not take any action that could prejudice the outcome of that ongoing inquiry.
“President Jonathan remains committed to bringing all identified & verified sponsors of terrorism to justice& ending the menace of extremism.
It could be recalled that the Australian Negotiator who spent four months trying to rescue the more than 200 girls kidnapped by the dreaded Boko Haram accused the former governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, Ihejirika, a former CBN governor and another senior staff of the CBN of sponsoring the sect.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of exhibiting a shocking act of indiscretion by hobnobbing with an alleged Boko Haram sponsor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who is not known to have been investigated and cleared of the weighty allegation against him.
Lai Mohammed, APC
In a statement issued in London on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party wondered what message President Jonathan was sending to his compatriots and indeed to the international community when he took Modu Sheriff along during his visit to Chad Monday to confer with President Idriss Deby on cooperation against terrorism.
”This action by President Jonathan confirms what the APC has always believed: That the President either knows more than he is willing to admit on the issue of those who are behind the Boko Haram insurgency or he is willing to sacrifice the battle against terrorism on the altar of political expediency. Either way, this action by the President is the height of indiscretion at best, or a palpable exhibition of callowness at worst.
”It also confirms our fears that Modu Sheriff was planted as a mole in the APC by his friends in high places, who are jittery about the birth of the party and would do anything to destabilize it,” it said.
APC said the President cannot pretend not to be aware of a report sent home by Nigeria’s Defence Adviser in Ndjamena, Chad, in 2011, detailing the suspicious activities of Modu Sheriff in Chad concerning alleged Boko Haram sponsorship and asking the Federal Government to investigate him.
The party said it therefore beggars belief that President Jonathan will choose to take the same personality along with him to the same Chad on a trip to canvas cooperation against Boko Haram terrorists.
”If this is a joke, it is one joke taken too far, especially at a time that Nigeria has been loosing territories after territories to Boko Haram; at a time that the same Modu Sheriff has been fingered by another source other than the Nigerian Defence Adviser in Chad, and at a time that calls are being made for an independent investigation into the allegation that Modu Sheriff and former Army Chief Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors.
”Or could it be the case of it takes a thief to catch a thief?” it queried.
APC said it was apparent that President Jonathan smuggled Modu Sheriff into his entourage, as the official statement announcing the trip never mentioned that the former Governor of Borno State would accompany the President on the trip, even while the list of those to accompany the President was included in the statement..
”Nobody in Nigeria would have known of this unholy alliance carried too far if not that the picture of the President, his host and Modu Sheriff surfaced via Twitter, where incredulous Nigerians were wondering what the President was doing with an alleged Boko Haram sponsor at a time the same terrorist group is waging a titanic battle against Nigeria.
”Therefore, the President owes Nigerians an explanation on why he took Modu Sheriff to Chad, what the President knows about the allegation hanging on the former Governor’s neck concerning Boko Haram sponsorship and why his administration has not handed him (Sheriff) and Ihejirika to the International Criminal Court for investigation and possible prosecution, since it is now obvious that the Administration is unwilling to probe them,” the party said.
Being the text of the World Press Conference by Former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff over link with Boko Haram.
Gentlemen of the Press, I am constrained to address you today happenings in some sections of the media, so as to correct the erroneous and mischievous impressions being created about my person. I have restrained myself from joining issues with those making uncomplimentary comments about me regarding the Boko Haram crisis because I know that all right thinking Nigerians can see through the plot being employed to divert attention from the real issues at stake and to denigrate me in the eyes of the public. As you are aware, my name is being mentioned for obvious political reasons as a culprit over the unfortunate happenings in Borno State and some parts of the country, especially from the 2009 Boko Haram episode to date. I must say that I have been utterly embarrassed by some of the negative comments, insinuations and unfounded accusations, which were clearly misdirected, narrow and mischievous From the time I left office in 2011, I had been unfairly accused of so many things in connection with the Boko Haram sect.
Ali Modu Sheriff
Firstly, I was accused of entering into an agreement with the sect to implement Sharia Law in the State so as to support my candidacy during the gubernatorial election in 2003 and that I broke that promise, which was why they resorted to armed struggle as a strategy to implement it. Secondly, I was accused of having linkage with the sect and thirdly, my Administration was also accused of not acting on security reports related to their activities, which was believed to have given the group the space to operate and cause the mayhem experienced. I wish to correct the misconception tenaciously held by some people that linked me to the sect even when several evidences point to the contrary. Ordinarily, I would have continued in my silence, but the smear campaign seems to be assuming a life of its own with the recent purported interview granted by a’ supposed Australian, Stephen Davis, whose identity remains suspect,.
Davis claimed to be working for the Federal Government but could not even avail the same Government which hired him the report of his findings, or speak to the Nigerian media, but rather sneaked out to purportedly speak to a third rate television station, ARISE.
The posers here are; why was the face of the said Davis not shown in all three interviews he granted? It is rather curious that the said interview was available only to,THISDAY newspapers both of which owned by the same person.
Why couldn’t other viewers in London have access to the controversial interview? Of what particular interest is the said Davis in the politics of Nigeria that he rose in defence of prominent APC leaders? Is the Australian a negotiator, an investigator, an anti graft agent, a reporter, a judge or a mere gadfly?
I also take particular exception to remarks credited to the national Chairman of the APC, John Odegie Oyegun, in his press conference of Tuesday 2nd September, 2014. As much as I do not consider changing ones’ political party as an anathema, I am particularly concerned that, my defection from the APC into the PDP seems to further galvanize my detractors who have converted the matter into a political weapon .. Even as the brain behind the whole charade, the All Progressive Party, APC, in its seeming desperation to retain my membership went rather too far in its political mudslinging. I consider it most uncharitable for the party, to use me as an alibi for the obvious culpability of some of its members.
As much as I do not want to politicize such a various serious issue like security, I am compelled to correct Chief Oyegun’s faulty generalizations, and judgmental attitude in acting out this well rehearsed script, conceived, written and directed by the APC. It has never been a secret that one of the most disturbing developments to the APC of late, is the massive departure of very prominent members, including my humble self. But this is not enough to warrant the callous campaigns against me or any person for that matter.
After due reflection over the dimensions the whole issue seems to be taking and saddened by the persistent misrepresentation and misinformation in some quarters, particularly the recent castigation by the APC, it has become imperative upon me to set the records straight as they relate my person.
Let me place it on record that since the inception of the current dispensation from 1999, I have been in the opposition party to the PDP. I have at every election caused the defeat of the PDP in my state. It will sound infantile for anybody to believe the accusation as being a mole of the same party that I have been causing its defeat in every election. And if I have been a problem to the APC, even as one of its founding fathers, what stops the party from exposing me or sanctioning me all the while. or are they accessories? Then how do we justify such an “accusation when some members of the same APC are being prosecuted for alleged offences related to Boko Haram activities?
It may not be necessary to bother you with the long history of the metamorphosis of Boko Haram as a sect, as several reports have published their genesis, spanning over twenty five years. The incident preceding the 2009 was in Kanama of Yobe State in 2002, long before I became the Governor of Borno state. It is on record that my Administration in 2009 took exceptional bold steps in handling the Boko Haram insurgency.
Given the seriousness of the issue, I feel it is highly uncharitable to try and trivialize the issue of terrorism on the alter of political rivalry. I believe very strongly that some of those linking me with the sect are doing so either because of absolute ignorance of the group, its history and development or are clearly being mischievous. Hence my decision to speak on the issue and make certain clarifications for the benefit of the unsuspecting general public becomes necessary.
It may interest you to know that it was the Government of my predecessor in office, the late Alhaji Mala Kachallah (May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace) that introduced Sharia Law in the State in the year 2000 through the ‘Borno State Sharia Administration of Justice Law 2000′. As a matter of fact, late Mala Kachallah signed the Bill into Law at an elaborate ceremony at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri and appointed the Borno State Sharia Law Implementation Committee in February, 2001 under the Chairmanship of Professor Abubakar Mustapha, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri. Interestingly, the late Mohammed Yusuf, leader of the Boko Haram sect was a member of the Committee among other Islamic scholars.’
If indeed there was an agreement between the sect and my predecessor on the issue of Sharia Implementation, I am not aware of it, as I was neither in Government then. nor was I a party to it. And since the law precedes my Administration I may not be in a position to speak on how it was conceived, promulgated and implemented. I present to you a copy of the ‘Borno State Sharia administration of justice Law 2000′ and the letter of appointment of the Chairman and members of the Borno State Sharia Law Implementation Committee for your peru al.
Let me state categorically at this point that I do not share the ideology of the Boko Haram sect, which is against western education, western culture and modern science or any other sect with similar ideology. From my background, it could be easily seen that we are completely opposed to one another in terms of our viewpoints and convictions. By my nature and upbringing, I have neither associated myself with nor shared the beliefs of religious fundamentalists such as the Boko Haram sect or any other sect for that matter.
With all sense of modesty, I wish to state that I have been a successful international businessman before joining politics. In 1992, I was elected a Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria under the National Republican Convention (NRC) to represent Borno Central Senatorial District. I was a member of the defunct Constitutional Conference between 1994 to 1995, Chairman of the African-American Summit in Dakar, Senegal in 1995. I was appointed by the Federal Govemment as a member of the Commonwealth delegation that undertook a diplomatic reconciliation mission to the United States and United Kingdom when the country “was at its most trying times in its international relations. I was again elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) 1998 representing Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State. With Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, I was elected for the third time as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the platform of All Peoples Party (APP). I become the Minority Leader and Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence among others. Again, in 2003, I was elected the fourth Executive Governor of Borno State and re-elected for the second time in 2007. I served my people until 29th May, 2011 when I handed over to a successor. As a committed and consistent politician, I was at various times elected the national treasurer of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and has served as the National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). ‘I was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the two Political Parties.
I remained the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of our great party the ANPP before the current merr.er into the APC. Let me seize this opportunity to once again thank the good people of the State for giving me these rare privileges to serve them. I remain grateful and indebted to the people of Borno. It is instructive to point out that I had been one of the greatest victims of the atrocities of the Boko Haram sect. As the Executive Governor of the State at that time, I had not abdicated my responsibilities of protecting the- lives and property of the people and did not give them any breathing space to operate outside the law of the land. Because of this, they were driven by a desire for vengeance against me, my family and my political associates. From the number of casualties amongst my relations and political associates it is evident that I suffered considerable personal loss from the crisis.
Amongst those killed in cold blood were my younger brother, late Alhaji Goni Mustapha Sheriff, the defunct ANPP State Chairman and my brother in-law, late Alhaji Awana Ngala, the gubernatorial Candidate of our party in the 2011 elections, late Engr, Modu Fannami Gubio, my bossom friends Alhaji Mustapha Fulawama.: Bukar Goni Kols, and a host of other close political associates.
May their gentle souls rest in peace. Available records show that the Boko Haram sect predates my governance. As for the events of June 2009, Lmust state that there was collaboration between the Federal and the state Government in trying to contain the situation. For record purposes, on the 11th of June, 2009, there was a report of shooting of seventeen (17) members of the sect by members of the “Operation Flush”( a combined security outfit against crime). They were reported to have attempted to forcefully seize the weapon of a soldier at a check point in Maiduguri metropolis, while on a procession to bury some of their members that died in a motor accident. The injured persons were taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for treatment and the authorities of the hospital requested for protection because of the influx of unwanted visitors to the victims, which did not go down well with members of the sect. The following day, late Mohammed Yusuf held an open sermon, which he tagged an “open letter”.
In that sermon, late Yusuf called the names of the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, late Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua (May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace), the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike, the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General A. Dambazzau, the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Onovo, the former Director-General of the State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Afakriya Gadzama and my humble self and threatened to deal with us and those that refused to share their doctrine. He called these leaders unprintable names and vowed to revenge what happened to their members. The recordings of the sermon were widely circulated in the State and some parts of the country. There were also reports that the group were stockpiling arms and ammunitions, which was discussed at the Security Council and appropriate decisions taken on the issue.
The former Presidents and Commanders-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo and late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua were accordingly briefed on the activities of the Boko Haram sect at various times and the threat posed by the group to national security. On the 23rd of July, 2009, there was a report of arrest of nine (9) members of the sect with bomb making devices and chemicals in Biu town. There was also a report of bomb explosion in the house of one of the members of the sect who later died from the explosion. Unbelievably, on the same 23rd July, 2009, the group had planned and had attacked the residence of a Deputy Commandant of the Mobile Police (Mopol) in the GRA and killed his guards and burnt his house. The group also went to the Police Headquarters in Maiduguri and indiscriminately and gruesomely killed Police Officers and personnel and members of their families. There is no doubt that the almost one week period (Sunday 26th July – Friday 31st July, 2009) during which the Boko Haram sect unleashed terror on Maiduguri and its environs would forever remain the traumatic and darkest part of the history’ of the State. In the five days during which the Boko Haram war climaxed, no fewer than a thousand innocent people, including policemen were brutally killed. An even higher number of their relatives were brutally killed by the sect when they attacked the Police College in Maiduguri, Bauchi, Yobe and Taraba States. Five Police Stations in the city of Maiduguri were set ablaze and several vehicles used by the force were burnt; arms and ammunition carted away; and so on.
Details of the casualties are available with the relevant authorities. Within one week, the atrocities of the sect escalated beyond proportion.
The State Government immediately drew the attention of the then President when the situation was getting out of hand and clearly beyond the capacity of the Police alone. Following that, the President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua accordingly gave the Military directives for action to be taken against the sect. On his way to Brazil on an official engagement, late President Yar’Adua addressed the Press promising that the ” Talibans ” as he called them “would be fished out, and dealt with decisively and promptly”.
It was at this point that the General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, Major General Saleh Maina, now retired, led the operation and successfully dislodged the sect after about five (5) days of fierce battle that rocked the State. As the Chief Security Officer, the Governor only provided logistics in terms of funds for the operation, since it was purely a Military Affair; the Military drew and managed its operational orders. This also applied to the Nigeria Police Force, which was led by a Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, John Hamza Ahmodu, now deceased.
Reports indicated that eventually, some of the sect members were killed in the gun battle and their leader, late Mohammed Yusuf was captured by the Military and handed over to the Police for prosecution. Understandably, the circumstances of the death of some of the sect leaders and their sponsors attracted wide publicity and condemnation worldwide, which prompted the Federal Government to appoint a “High-Powered Post-Mortem Committee on the Sectarian Crisis in Kano, Bauchi, Yobe, and Borno States”, charged with the responsibility of investigating the matter generally.
The Committee, which was headed by the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Paul Dike with membership that cut across the various security agencies in the country, visited the affected areas and met with stakeholders. The Committee had submitted its report. In fact, the issue regarding the death of the sect leader and others is currently in the court of law in Abuja where some Police officers are facing trial. On its part, the Borno State Government appointed a High- Powered Administrative Committee of Inquiry into the Boko Haram insurgency headed by Ambassador Gaji Galtimari and the Committee made far reaching recommendations, most of which were considered and implemented. Government later converted the Committee into an Implementation Committee, which implemented the Government White-Paper on the matter.
Sequel to the recommendation of the High-powered Committee and pursuant to the powers vested in the office of the Executive Governor of the State by Section 97 A of the Penal Code Law, CAP 102 Laws of Borno State, the sect commonly known as Boko Haram and alternatively as Yusufiyya was declared as a society dangerous to the good government of Borno State and therefore banned. This Order was cited as the Boko Haram or Yusufiyya Sect (Society Dangerous to Government of Borno State) (Declaration) Order, 2010. They said Order was made on the s” Day of May 2010. The movement in reaction to the order changed its nomenclature to Jama’atul Ahlis-Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad.
Unfortunately, in spite all of the above, the sect continued to wreck havoc in Bauchi, Yobe, Taraba, Borno, Kano States, including the Federal Capital Abuja. The group, had resurfaced with a renewed strategy and in a more dangerous and determined manner since the Jail Break in Bauchi sometime ago. The wave of assassinations by Boko Haram sect in Borno State clearly suggested that the group went back to the drawing board after their encounter with the Military in 2009 assessed it methods and developed new ones. In the last three years, an alarming number of members of the rank and file of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies had been killed by sect, in addition to other innocent Nigerians.
Equally, scores of known high-profile individuals (traditional rulers, Islamic clerics as well as politicians) have been murdered in cold blood for providing information to security agencies or preaching against a retrogressive Boko Haram ideology. From the pattern of these killings, it was not difficult to conclude that the sect had also become captive of some political forces bent on settling political score with the followers of our party that have ruled the State since 1999.Most of these assassinations were no doubt politically motivated.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, it is necessary to state that security of lives and property received the highest priority of Government throughout the period I was the Executive Governor because I believed that any government that failed to protect its people loses its essence. The Borno State Government under my leadership had spent a colossal amount of money on security matters because of the porous borders the State shares with three (3) countries. The geographical location of Borno State significantly contributed to the huge security challenge faced by Government. In addition, the relatively poor socio-economic status of our neighbouring countries largely made Borno State a haven for most of the dissidents that were engaged in fighting in Chad since the 1980s. It is also important to state that as the Chief Security Officer of the State, I had limitations as to the directives I could possibly issue out to the Military and Police Force because these are Federal Agencies that got their orders from their chain of commands, where the ultimate responsibility for their action reside. It is instructive to also point out that the State Government sought for approval to engage these organisations in adhoc assignments like the Operation Flush. The State Security Council frequently deliberated on the security challenges in the State and decisive actions were always taken on issues brought before it. It is pertinent to re-emphasize the fact that throughout the period of my business life even before joining politics and political activities since 1990, I have not associated myself with any religious group.
As a matter of fact, I did not know the late Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the Boko Haram sect or any of his followers throughout my life. I saw late Yusuf for the very first and last time when he was captured by the Military after the fierce battle they had with the sect in 2009 before he was handed to the Police. As the Chief Security Officer, the Military invited me to see him in their custody.
Commissioner in my cabinet.
As a matter of fact, late Foi was a Local Government Chairman in Kaga Local Government during the regime of my predecessor, late Alhaji Mala Kachallah (May his soul rest in perfect peace) in 1999. When I became the Governor of the State in 2003, I adopted a participatory system of Governance where major stakeholders in the Local Governments chose those to be appointed into political offices, including Commissioners. It was the stakeholders in Kaga Local Government that submitted the name of late Foi for appointment into the State Executive Council to which I obliged. Perhaps, it is important to stress the fact that the Boko Haram sect did not start when I took over the mantle of leadership in the State in 2003 but existed before my assumption as the Governor.
As a matter of fact also, the members of the sect dangerously believed that their mission is divinely directed, which makes it difficult to change them and this explained why they were ready to die in the cause they were pursuing. They also have a lot of disdain for politicians and hate democracy with passion as you perhaps know by now.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as a three-time elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a two-time Executive Governor of Borno State, I wish to state with all sense of responsibility and modesty that all our actions were guided by the need to improve the wellbeing of our people and take our State to greater heights. For the avoidance of doubt, as a Muslim, I believe in the sanctity of human life and as a true democrat endorse all the rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I also believe in the observance of Fundamental Human Rights of all citizens and following due process in dealing with any violation of the law.
Permit me to highly commend the President and Commander-In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, for his good sense of purpose in handling the issue and his commitment to restoring peace in the dear country. I also commend the Military and other security agencies for their sacrifice and patriotism in tackling this major security challenge in our dear country. They are patriots whose names will be individually and collectively written in gold in the annals of the history of our beloved country. It is rather curious that the campaign against me is becoming more stringent at the time I decided to take Borno into mainstream national politics by joining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Much as I am saddened, I must say I am not deterred in my resolve to save Borno and indeed Nigeria from the threats of this mindless sect and its true sponsors. This address will be incomplete without expressing my heart- felt sympathy and condolences to the families whose loved ones had been killed during the unfortunate crises across the country. I share their pains and grief and pray that God gives them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses. I equally pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured in these disturbances.
Ladies and Gentlemen, having placed before you the true in these disturbances. Ladies and Gentlemen, having placed before you the true story, as moulders of public opinion, I leave for Nigerians to judge, whether it has become a crime in .our land to do good to all manner of men as a leader. Nigerians are in a better position to juxtapose my story against the fabricated allegations being orchestrated by some mischief makers. It is rather unfortunate that those who benefitted most from all the actions we took to position Borno state in the face of our challenges are today in the forefront of the smear campaign. Beyond everything else, God Almighty is the ultimate judge of all men. May HIS wrath visit those who kill, only to turn around and accuse others. Thank you for your attention.
Senator (Dr.) Ali Modu Sheriff Immediate-Past Executive Governor of Borno State (2003- 2011)
I read, in the August 29 edition of Thisday Newspaper, the grave allegations made by an Australian by the name of Mr. Stephen Davis about those that he believes are behind Boko Haram.
He made some very serious allegations; he mentioned names and I would be interested in seeing the hard evidence that he claims to have.
Femi Fani-Kayode
I have always said that I believe that anyone, no matter which political party that person belongs to and no matter how highly placed or powerful that person may be, that is involved with Boko Haram ought to be captured, caged, flogged and brought to justice because I regard such people as nothing but bloodthirsty beasts.
I have also always said that I believe that some of the leading members of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, are secret sponsors and supporters of Boko Haram and I am glad that Mr. Davis appears to share this view and that he has indeed confirmed my worst fears in his celebrated interview with Arise TV.
Similar concerns have been raised and allegations made about the suspicious nexus, the direct link and the questionable relationship between APC and Boko Haram by senior Members of Parliament in the British House of Commons together with a number of leading Russian and American civil and religious institutions, organisations, commentators and political figures.
It is therefore good news that Mr. Davis has confirmed some of our collective suspicions and fears and that he has decided to come out and tell us what he knows given the role that he played in the negotiations to broker a deal to get the Chibok girls released from Boko Haram. I have little doubt that, on the allegation that the APC and Boko Haram are linked, Mr.Davis is absolutely right.
I am not however convinced on the culpability of one or two of the other people that he has fingered. No one should be spared if the evidence is really there but I must say that I find the allegation that, for example, the former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, is somehow involved with Boko Haram a little far-fetched.
I say this because firstly, the man spent so much of his time, energy, career and resources fighting that same terrorist organisation that he is now being accused of being part of.
Secondly, I say it because that terrorist organisation has killed and continues to kill so many of his own officers and men. And thirdly, I say it because the man is not a Muslim but a Christian and I have never heard of a Christian helping or assisting an Islamist terrorist organisation in their quest to establish an Islamic fundamentalist state or ”new world caliphate” in his country.
This is especially so when that terrorist organisation is committed to wiping out the Christian faith itself and killing every Christian, every secularist and every moderate Muslim in the country. It seems to me that this is an absurd notion and that it really doesn’t make any sense but if the Australian has any hard evidence let us see or hear it.
Again, I disagree strongly with the leading figures in the opposition that have said that the Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are the ones behind Boko Haram. I say this because those individuals know very well that the APC as a party have far more sympathy for Boko Haram and far many more of their leaders and members have spoken up for and in defence of Boko Haram than anyone else.
On Friday, August 29, in Thisday Newspaper, one of those leaders said that the Senator from Borno State that was facing terrorism charges was ”a PDP member”. This is not true. The Senator that he was referring to is Senator Ndume and he is in the APC and not the PDP.
Quite apart from that, certain things need to be noted. Let me remind those that are pointing fingers at the PDP today that it was not a member of the PDP or the Federal Government that, some time in 2013, said Boko Haram should not be proscribed as an organisation, even after they had slaughtered no less than 15,000 innocent Nigerians in cold blood. It was rather the official spokesman of the APC, Lai Mohammed, who said so.
It was not the PDP or any member of the Federal Government that told the world, only in 2013, that they were against the declaration of a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, that an attack on Boko Haram was an attack on the north and that Boko Haram members ought not to be killed but rather they ought to be pampered, granted amnesty and treated in a gentle manner like the Niger Delta militants. It was the leading Presidential aspirant and one of the two co-owners of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, that said so.
It was the same General Buhari who has openly identified with and publiclly endorsed a number of the core objectives of Boko Haram when, as far back as 2001, he told the world that he wanted to ”spread sharia all over the country”, when he said that ”Muslims should only vote for those that would protect their interest”, when he asked ”why should it concern Christians when Muslims chop off the limbs of one another” in accordance with their divine law and when he said, in 2013, that there would be violence and that ”the blood of the dog and the baboon would both flow” if the coming elections were rigged.
It was not the PDP or a member of the Federal Government that told the world three years ago that if President Goodluck Jonathan or any southerner emerged as President in 2011 that ”we would make the country ungovernable”. It was Alhaji Lawal Kaita, a leading member of the APC, that said so.
It was not the PDP or any member of the Federal Government that guaranteed the security of the Chibok girls and insisted that they should go ahead and do their exams at Chibok and that he would provide the necessary security, even after WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education had written him a letter and warned him that it would be dangerous to do so and that he must not go ahead.
It was the Governor of Borno State, who is a leading member of the APC, that did that. Not only did he not provide the promised security but he also abandoned the girls and left them in the lurch because only one adult, the school gateman, spent the night in the school with those girls despite all the obvious dangers.
Worst still, there was no electricity and no generator functioning at the school throughout the night and neither was there one adult, teacher or supervisor with the girls at the school.
Even more suspicious was the fact that not one of the daughters of any of the staff and teachers that attended that school spent the night with the other girls at the school that night. They were all in the safety of their homes. One wonders why? Was it just a coincidence or did they have prior notice of the impending doom?
The whole Chibok episode is still clouded in mystery but given the fact that the Governor of Borno State is now one of the leading members of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign I wonder why he allowed all these lapses to take place and why he behaved in this way?
Was his motive for not taking all reasonable measures to protect those girls political? Is there not more to his actions and inactions than meets the eye? I repeat my constant assertion that Boko Haram is the military wing of the APC and that the APC is the political wing of Boko Haram.
I make this grave and very serious allegation partly because of the aforementioned public utterances and actions of these leading APC members and partly because of a number of other things that I will not say publiclly because Nigerians would be utterly traumatised if they heard them.
There would be an uproar in this country if some of us were to say all that we know about the irresponsible and insidious religious agenda that the APC has and the hideous and shameful things that they are doing and saying behind closed doors.
The suggestion that they never had a plan to have a Muslim/Muslim ticket is a lie from the pit of hell. They may have dropped that plan now due to the fact that ii has generated a good deal of public uproar and outrage but that was their original plan and many of them were hell bent on it and probably still are.
The suggestion that they have not used religion as a political tool is another dirty lie. That is what they have been doing from day one and they are still doing it now. The suggestion that they cannot be equated with or compared to the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt or the Sudanese Janjaweed is another lie from the pit of hell.
If anyone has any doubts about that they should just scrutinise the religious composition of both their old and defunct Interim National Executive Commitee and the new one and they will see that it is virtually an all Muslim affair spiced with a few token christians lurking in the shadows and acting as fronts.
Nigeria is a multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic secular state and it is exceptionally dangerous to introduce religion into politics and seek to use it to gain political power as the APC are shamelessly doing.
The suggestion that some of their more notable leaders often make that the PDP is linked to Boko Haram in any shape or form or that President Goodluck Jonathan, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or the High Command of the Nigerian Military, Securiy Agencies and Intelligence Services are sponsoring or supporting Boko Haram is another lie from the pit of hell.
For anyone in the APC to make such an allegation is not only absurd but it is like the pot calling the kettle black. It was rather elements in the APC, and none of those in PDP or any of those organisations that worked day and night to ensure that America did not label Boko Haram a terrorist organisation throughout last year and up until early this year.
This is after the terrorists had killed and abducted so many young and innocent Nigerians. Now the question has to be asked, why was this so? If the APC were not behind Boko Haram why did they not want them to be labelled as terrorists by the Americans and the international community?
Why did they complain morning day and night that the Nigerian military were killing ”innocent northerners” and ”violating human rights” simply because our brave soldiers were risking their lives on the war front and battlefield fighting terror, trying to protect our people and trying to wipe out the enemy.
Some have cited the former National Security Advisor, General Patrick Azazi’s comments as evidence of PDP’s so-called involvement with Boko Haram. They conveniently forget that the elements that Azazi was referring to at that time have now all left the PDP and have now joined the APC.
We do not need any more lessons, finger-pointing or self-serving statements from leaders of the APC or their party about Boko Haram. What we need and what we want from them is for them to stop supporting and encouraging the terrorists and to stop bringing religion into politics.
They should also apologise to the Nigerian people for the shameful things that they have said which has done nothing but encourage the terrorists and the enemies of our people. May God grant them the grace and humility to do so.
Stephen Davis, an Australian hostage negotiator who spent some time in Nigeria trying to secure the release of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram militants in Chibok, Borno State, told SaharaReporters that he stands by his widely reported allegations that former Governor Modu Sherriff of Borno State and a former Chief of Army staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika (ret.), were among the top sponsors of the Islamist insurgents who have massacred thousands of Nigerians and foreigners and made the northeast part of Nigeria a highly militarized zone.
Ali Sheriff
In an extensive telephone interview with SaharaReporters yesterday, Dr. Davis also accused an unnamed senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as a man based in Cairo, Egypt whom he claimed operates as Boko Haram’s bagman. He said both men, in addition to Mr. Sheriff and former General Ihejirika, were major players in the funding and continued existence of the deadly Islamist sect.
Dr. Davis told SaharaReporters that he did not want to name the CBN official as this may prejudice investigation by Nigeria’s security services. Both accused men have reacted furiously to Mr. Davis’ allegation, with the former Borno governor threatening to travel to Australia to sue his accuser while Mr. Ihejirika accused former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El Rufai, of being a “commander” of Boko Haram. Three days ago, Mr. El Rufai had posted transcripts and video of Mr. Davis’ accusations of the former governor and ex-Army chief on social media.
Asked whether Mr. El Rufai and former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, had a hand in funding or sponsoring Boko Haram, Dr. Davis said their names have not been mentioned to him by any Boko Haram connections.
Also, asked to explain why Mr. Ihejirika, a non-Muslim who hails from the predominantly Christian southeastern part of Nigeria, became a Boko Haram “sponsor,” Mr. Davis said, “Boko Haram commanders and some connected with them told me on several occasions Ihejirika was one of their sponsors.”
He also disclosed that Mr. Sheriff always had the best military protection in Nigeria’s violence-plagued northeast, a protection he claimed the ex-governor enjoyed after he left office.
Dr. Davis reiterated that his allegations were informed by discussions he had with several Boko Haram field commanders over a long period of time. Asked if President Goodluck Jonathan was aware of the insurgents’ sponsors and their specific roles, Dr. Davis said he was unsure of the extent of information currently before President Jonathan. He added that Mr. Jonathan had been weakened by lack of military loyalty and a history of security negligence. He gave the example of repeated attempts to bring the growth of Al Qa’eda associated cells to the attention of NSA’s since 2006 only to have them dismiss such reports as baseless. “By the time Goodluck Jonathan became president Boko Haram had become a potent weapon with a command structure embedded in 16 northern states fanned by support from corrupt politicians.”
He further gave the example of Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, Aliyu Gusau, whom he accused of basically leaving Mr. Jonathan to carry his can without taking any responsibility for his work.
The Australian negotiator also revealed that his years working with Nigerian presidents on matters of terrorism had shown that, even when some prominent individuals are known to be involved in criminality, the presidents are simply too afraid to take them on. He cited the example of the Niger Delta region. He told SaharaReporters that he and former President Olusegun Obasanjo found out that Abiye Sekibo, who was then Mr. Obasanjo’s Transport Minister, had contracted the assassins who killed a prominent politician, Harry Marshall. He said he tried to persuade Mr. Obasanjo to prosecute Mr. Sekibo, but the then president declined, stating that such a trial could bring down his government.
Dr. Davis touched on several aspects of Boko Haram activities, showing that he was quite knowledgeable about the sect’s actions. He told SaharaReporters that Boko Haram runs about six major camps in the northeast and neighboring countries, adding that 700 fighters inhabited each camp. In addition there are a range of smaller camps within Borno State, which are often temporary and to which kidnapped girls are taken to be used by the insurgents.
The Australian revealed that earlier this year Boko Haram was a loose coalition of three Islamist militant groups that worked with one another, claiming that, since four months ago, the sects had merged into one single entity, become more cohesive, strategically effective and powerful. “They are now linking with other terrorist group in the region and will soon be very difficult to dismantle. If these political sponsors think they can turn these groups off after the 2015 elections they are going to be surprised to find it is out of their control.”
On why he had chosen to speak out publicly at this time, Dr. Davis stated that, from experience, any terrorist group that has lasted more than eight years after its formation would likely exist for another 20 or more years before it can be dismantled. It thus becomes embedded for a generation and the likelihood of dismantling it was very low. “If we don’t do our utmost now to dismantle Boko Haram then we may not be able to do so for another generation. That is a very gloomy scenario for Nigeria.”
He touched on former National Security Adviser, Owoye Andrew Azazi, whom he described as utterly corrupt. He said Mr. Azazi, who was a retired Army general, was planning to buy into the Hilton hotel chain in London to the tune of $100 million before he died in a helicopter crash on December 15, 2012.
Dr. Davis painted a portrait of Nigeria’s various intelligence units as operating in silos that refuse to share information that could tame terrorist groups. To illustrate his point, the Australian cited the example of the State Security Services. According to him, months after the SSS won the extradition from the Sudan of Aminu Ogwuche, a suspected terror mastermind who reportedly planned the deadly bombing of an Abuja bus station, the intelligence agency had yet to interrogate Mr. Ogwuche about his links with the three young men he reportedly contracted to carry out the bombing.
Dr. Davis said the young men were three in number and that they lived in the home of a CBN official who also carried out banking transactions for Boko Haram through the CBN. He said two other young collaborators in the Nyanya Motor Park bombing remain on the run.
The Australian hostage negotiator vowed to make more revelations about Boko Haram’s sponsors, adding that he believed the sect could only be dismantled if their sponsors were exposed and prosecuted. In particular, he said he could not see why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had not already moved on Sheriff for his extensive looting of public funds when he was the Borno State governor, and for leaving the roads in Borno State in a terrible shape that has enabled Boko Haram to ambush Nigeria troops and massacre them mercilessly. He also added that the former governor should face the ultimate trial for financing the recruitment of young men to the Islamist sect.
Dr. Davis dismissed Mr. Sheriff’s threat to travel to Australia to sue him for his statements as grandstanding and seeking to divert attention from the real issue of Mr. Sheriff’s involvement with Boko Haram. He added that he would be pleased to meet the former governor at the airport whenever he developed the courage to come to Australia.
Listen to Dr. Davis allegation here if you haven’t : Arise News
I have not been surprised over the revelation made by a Perth-based international adviser, Dr. Stephen Davis who spent 4 months in Nigeria trying to rescue the more than 200 girls abducted by the dreaded Boko Haram in April 14, 2014.
During an interview with Arise Tv yesterday, the Australian negotiator revealed, though what seems like an eye opening story, but already known information to many Nigerians. He expressed disappointment over the lives of the girls in captivity and accused Nigeria politicians of sponsoring the terrorists.
Ali Sheriff
Dr. Davis in his accusation mentioned a known member of the terrorist group, Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State and a former chief of army staff lt-Gen Ihejirika who was fired by President Goodluck Jonathan early this year, as the group sponsor.
The news of Lt-Gen. Ihejirika blew my mind as he would be the last person on earth to be a suspect due to the position he occupied and the part of Nigeria he hails from. It could be recalled that after he was fired, the Northern elders attempted to drag him to International court of law for carrying out genocide through his soldiers, a statement that almost led to the Eastern elders bringing in the history of Biafra.
Ali Modu Sheriff has been a target for quiet sometime as the founder of the group, Boko Haram. In 2003, Sheriff in his attempt to grab power, sponsor a group called The Yusufiyya Movement now Boko Haram.
Sheriff was the same man who, through his deputy, Adamu Dibal and the secretary negotiated for the return of the former Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf who fled to Saudi Arabia after leading a Taliban uprising and clash with Policemen in Yobe State.
Sheriff used the The Yusufiyya Movement to take over power from Governor Mala Kachallah, in Borno and promised them Sharia law in return. Instead of Sheriff to keep to his promise, he created a Ministry of Religious Affairs and appointed Alhaji Buji Foi, who was Yusufiyya’s national secretary, as its first commissioner.
Mohammed Yusuf after realising that Sheriff was not going to keep to his promise ordered Buji Foi and his men to resign. The movement later had a clash with policemen twice which led to many casualties from the group side including the death of Mohammed Yusuf.
What could not be gathered was how Sheriff reconciled his differences with the group that Boko Haram commander, Shuaibu Bama, a nephew to Senator Ahmad Zanna, was arrested in his house. Though the JTF claimed the commander was arrested in Senator Zanna representing Borno Central’s house.
Responding to the allegation “Senator Zanna told journalists that while he could not deny his relationship with his nephew, he disowned his house where the JTF arrested the suspect, stressing that the house belongs to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff the immediate former governor of the state.”
The above statement led to retaliation from Sheriff who accused Senator Zanna of inconsistencies in trying to defend himself. He query further on what Zanna’s nephew was doing in his house if they (himself and Zanna) were political rival as he claimed.
He added “obvious involvement with Boko Haram, given his past antecedence where people finger him as illegal importer of arms via his Hajj-by-road fame.”
The former governor said that some of the so-called “pilgrims by road” have been traced to terrorists’ camps in Afghanistan and Syria, and not Saudi Arabia, their preferred destination. It is very much on record that 27 of such pilgrims are still missing up till date.”
From the analysis above, it is obvious that both Sheriff and Zannah know who Boko Haram is. It could also be recalled that during the abduction of the Chibok girls, Senator Zanna and Sheriff always get information from the sect before the police and other forces?
Nigerians shouldn’t forget that Dr. Davis said the sponsors are mainly from the North, he also said that President Jonathan could not make any arrest yet as the opposition would raise alarm that he was arresting them to favour his election in 2015. He also revealed that one of the sponsors could emerge as one of the opposition’s candidates.
In is explanation, he assumed that the opposition may have the plan to halt the activities of the sect after emerging the winner but may find it difficult as the group may be uncontrollable. Who is the opposition presidential candidate?
In July 14, Sheriff suddenly decamped from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party. This was after a military source revealed to NAIJA CENTER NEWS that some materials found in Belmo forest during a raid of the insurgent’s camp belonged to the APC. At the same time, the UK order a proper investigation into the opposition party in order to determine its link with sect.
When asked why he left the APC, he said “The game has changed both in Borno and at the national level. APC has no solid foundation; a party cannot be built around an individual”, said Mr. Sheriff.
“I have taken time to study the package called APC and come to realise that it won’t work. And any serious politician, who knows his onions would not want to be in a ship that is bound to crash”.
“For now we are in high level consultation with our people and also with the PDP national officers. It is sad that our people here are in serious want; I came and saw many of them in serious difficulties, and we feel pained that we have to do something fast to assist them. We have no option now than to come and tell them that we are sorry, that we brought them a wrong party, but now we have come to correct our mistakes”.
But yesterday, Dr. Davis who spoke on his defection said Sheriff may have decamp to PDP for cover but Sheriff claimed that he made his decision to save Nigeria.. Whatever that means..
Will President Jonathan make the necessary step to bring this incessant killing to rest? Will he jeopardize his chance of being the President for another four years by arresting top leaders of the opposition as suspects of the sect? or will he just sit and look not to offend anyone? Isn’t it obvious that Ali Modu Sheriff has been playing a mole game?
The All Progressives Youth Forum is planning to organize a nationwide thanks giving with special Sunday church service and umma’at prayers over the planned defection of former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff from the APC to PDP according to Barrister Ismail Ahmed the Forum’s chairman
Ali Sheriff
Sheriff had on Friday confirmed his planned defection to PDP when he told State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan that his movement to PDP was in Nigeria’s best interest.
Barrister Ismaila Ahmed said the Forum received the news with so much joy as it considers his exit as the best thing that would ever happen to the life of the party due to what it calls ‘strategic blackmail of the APC by the PDD using Sheriff’s alleged links with the Boko Haram, regardless whether Sheriff was guilty or not”.
The Forum said “it has conducted very serious investigations about all the games in trying to attach a bad name to the APC locally and internationally. We found out that the PDP uses sponsored commentators in Nigeria to link Sheriff with Boko Haram, rightly or wrongly and because he was a chieftain of the APC, it was easy to sell that to Nigerians using the media. The Forum recalled that the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and Femi Fani Kayode recently said in public that Sheriff was behind Boko Haram and they openly used that to associate APC with Boko Haram.
The Forum further recalled that the PDP in Borno State as far as 2011 sent a delegation to media houses and alleged that Sheriff was responsible for the emergence of a violent Boko Haram attack after a certain deal he struck with their late leader to support his bid in 2003 to be Governor and in return Sheriff created a Ministry for Religious Affairs and made one of the Boko Haram’s major financial backbones, Buji Foi as Commissioner for Religious Affairs, but that Sheriff along the line fell out leading to the 2009 first major crisis and that Sheriff ordered the killing of Mohammed Yusuf whereas he was captured alive and also ordered the killing of the former commissioner, Buji Foi while he was also captured alive, all in an attempt to silence both Yusuf and Foi from revealing some information about their dealing to the public we are now where we are. Boko Haram went viral over the extra judicial killings of their members to the extent that the crisis has taken a confusing dimension.
But the PDP led Federal Government deliberately refused to arrest Sheriff, instead, the FG blackmailed him into working against the ANPP then and thereafter planted him as a spy in APC, where he was able to report every strategy of the APC to the PDP since as a national leader of the party he was privileged to attend strategic and highly sensitive meetings of the party.
Most importantly also, the PDP and the Federal Government are in the habit of telling the international community that APC has links with Boko Haram and in each of their meetings with representatives of foreign countries and international institutions, the PDP and the FG cited Sheriff’s membership of the APC as basis of APC’S false link with Boko Haram. At a point two months ago, some agents working to satisfy PDP wanted British parliament to move a motion in session seeking to probe APC’S alleged link with Boko Haram principally on the basis of Sheriff’s membership of APC
By the time Sheriff leaves the APC, nobody will have any reason to further demonise the party locally or internationally. We had actually recommended his expulsion to the leadership of the party a while ago if not for some people like the Governor of his State and Alhaji Kashim Imam who intervened.
We don’t want him one bit in APC. He was a big burden to us, we feel so relieved and this is why we will call on our members nationwide to attend special sunday church service and jumma’at prayers to offer thanksgiving to God almighty for cleansing the APC.
His exit is the best thing that ever happened to the APC since it came into being. The APC was not happy with the departure of Shekarau and Bafarawa but Sheriff, no,no, we wanted him out and we say thank God he has left us, let him go far, far away with his controversial history and antecedents. We don’t want any Hitler related past around us’ the Forum said.
