Former governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said that the recent allegation levied against him by Mr Stephen Davis, an Australian negotiator, was a hatchet job concocted by some interest group in Maiduguri, the state capital, in order to smear his image and personality for political reasons or gain.
Davis had claimed in a video interview that Sheriff and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika, were key sponsors of the Boko Haram sect.
Sheriff spoke yesterday when he visited some Internally Displaced Persons camps in Maiduguri.
He said: “If there is any son of Borno that is so lucky, it is me, as I was elected three times senator, two times governor by the good people of Borno. Therefore, there is no amount of sacrifice I cannot offer the people of the state.
“Even if it means sleeping at the Presidency to help my people, I would do that.
“I always laugh when I hear people say I am not concerned with the people of Borno and I am a sponsor of Boko Haram.
“Why should I do that to my people who have done so much for me?”
He pointed out that he was the first victim of Boko Haram, as his own brother, cousin and party chairman were all brutally murdered by the sect members.
He added: “If I am a sponsor of Boko Haram, as they claimed, ninety percent of those in the present state government that are mounting pressure and engaging in the campaign of calumny against me benefited immensely from me.
“As such, they shouldn’t capitalize on the unfortunate situation in Borno state to score their cheap political goals.”
Sheriff added: “The said Australian national is an agent of those who spoil my name, as he was smuggled into Maiduguri town to do the hatchet job.
“The man only spoke to an unpopular television station owned by a Nigerian through phone and never showed his face, meaning that he was just acting the script of his masters.
“God is alive. God never sleeps. God is watching and eventually the truth shall prevail. As falsehood has never overshadowed the truth.
“With time, God will vindicate me and those doing this evil job will face the wrath of God.”
The former governor said he said he had succeeded in bringing Borno into the mainstream politics, vowing to liaise with the Federal Government to bring to Borno an end to the insurgency that has bedeviled the state for many years.
Sheriff, who was visibly worried by the condition of the refugees at the camps, donated N30 million to each of the five IDP camps.
He also donated 600 bags of foreign rice to each camp with an apology that he had not forgotten and was aware of the plight of the people of Borno.
Sheriff, a three-time senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, also cautioned the Borno Radio Television (BRTV) over the repeated broadcast of the Davis video clip, calling the broadcasts an act of unprofessionalism.
Earlier, Sheriff had condoled with a former Presidential Liaison Officer to the National Assembly under Obasanjo, Alhaji Kashim Imam, who lost his mother at the weekend.
Reacting to Sheriff’s comments yesterday, the Secretary to Borno State Government (SSG), Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, said the former governor was putting the cart before the horse “in order to politicise the allegations against him and find a scapegoat and an easy escape route.”
Jidda said in a press release: “Just two weeks ago, Sheriff told the world at a media briefing in Abuja that he was taking Davis to court in London or so and in reaction, the Nigerian media reported Davis saying he was ready to provide evidence in court in Australia or so when Sheriff takes him to court. This is one part.
“On another part, the Department of State Security said it was probing Sheriff over the allegations and Mr President, Goodluck Jonathan, said last weekend through his spokesperson, Dr Reuben Abati, that the security agencies were probing the allegations against Sheriff and findings will be made public.
“The question now is, why is Sheriff putting the cart before the horse? Why can’t he pursue his case in court, defend whatever evidence brought by Davis and clear his name?
“And also, why wouldn’t he await the findings of the Nigerian security agencies that said they are probing him as confirmed by the President?
“Since he said he is innocent, all he needs do is to wait for the outcome of his court case and security probe. Simple.”
He added: “For the record, let me say that it is a big embarrassment for the state government, the governor, Kashim Shettima, myself or any Borno man or woman for that matter that a Borno man is being associated with that grievous allegation because it stains our name as a state and as a people.
“Borno people are the worst affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. To say a Borno man is partly responsible is a big embarrassment that we all do not celebrate because of the stigma it inflicts on us.
“Therefore, by rushing to a press conference in Maiduguri today to accuse Borno state government baselessly is, to my mind, a desperate attempt on the part of the former governor to look for a scapegoat and look for an easy escape route as against following the channels of court process he pronounced as well as the security probe being carried out.”
Source: Blueprint
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