Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff has denied claims by Australian negotiator, Rev. Stephen Davis that he is one of the major sponsors of the sect.

Sheriff said he was instead one of the first victims of Boko Haram and that the Jihadist group started before his tenure as Governor.

He spoke in an interview with New Telegraph.

His words: “The Boko Haram war as we know it today, started in 2002 in Yobe State. The first attack of Boko Haram was in 2002 in Kanama, from there they ran to Borno State. And in 2002, where was I? I wasn’t a governor. There was a sitting governor in Borno State, and there was Boko Haram. They ran away from Kanama and moved to Gwoza hill.

“But come to think of it, who is Mohammed Yusuf ( first leader of the group)? Yusuf had been in Maiduguri, doing his preaching and later taken to court by the Federal Government, and prosecuted in Abuja, ever before I became a governor. And who was the first casualty of Boko Haram in Borno State? It is me.

“I was the first victim of Boko Haram in Borno State. In their first attack, they killed my brother, the same father and mother with me. That was when they fought with the military in Borno.

“The first casualty was me. Then, they killed my cousin. They killed my candidate for governorship; they killed my party chairman. Two of them were direct relations of mine. Why did they do that? Because I made a law prohibiting Boko Haram in the domain of Borno State.

“The law said anybody practising or associated with what Boko Haram was doing, was banned by law from so doing, and if caught, will be prosecuted and jailed for 25 years.”

Sheriff said Davis’s allegations were baseless and senseless.

“The man that purportedly gave the interview said he was an Australian, who said he came to Nigeria, and spoke to Boko Haram. I thought that really, if he is a professional mediator or negotiator, or whatever he calls himself, his report would have been given to the security agencies of Nigeria. That is number one. Number two, also, if at all he spoke to Boko Haram, before making his views public, he should have known that I have a right of reply. He should have asked for my reaction or views on his findings, because I am a Nigerian, I am in Nigeria, I didn’t go anywhere. Number three, I was the governor of Borno State for eight years”.

barcanista: We need to give Sheriff the chance to Air his own side. I recall that the Governorship Candidate of ANPP in 2011 and Party Chairman were murdered.

Someone is pulling a string somewhere

Eldavido1:

SAS may have used BH to win his reelection. But to say he is sponsoring BH activities just doesn't add up. BH have severally identify him as their number one enemy and always request for his arrest as a precondition for peace. With time more truth will unfold.

barcanista: SAS cannot be absolved for the activities because he created it. It is shameful though. But the continuous sustenance of BH I am not sure. Whats Up with Ali Ndume? why no one is talking about him?

barcanista: SAS cannot be absolved for the activities because he created it. It is shameful though. But the continuous sustenance of BH I am not sure. Whats Up with Ali Ndume? why no one is talking about him?

Eldavido1:

Senator Ali Ndume represent Borno south federal constituency from Gwoza village. He is a Christian who converted to Islam. All is other four siblings, Daniel, Diana, Martha and Naomi with his mum magdalene are Christians. He was arrested by the SSS in 2011 of sponsoring BH cause one BH member Aliyu umaru Sanda kadunga name him as a source to some politicians fone contact. Note all these occurred after GEJ named him in august 2011 as a member of a presidential committee to find a solution to BH problem in borno. The dates of his contact and communications with certain members of BH started after he was named in the committee. He claimed his involvement with them was purely to find a solution concerning the crisis accordance with the resolution of the committee to dialogue with BH. Though the case is still in court, the SSS could not get any additional evidence to indict him other than does said fone contacts.

noblezone: Boko Haram as part of there demands asked that Sheriff be arrested.

Why??

Eldavido1:

SAS may have used BH to win his reelection. But to say he is sponsoring BH activities just doesn't add up. BH have severally identify him as their number one enemy and always request for his arrest as a precondition for peace. With time more truth will unfold.

Eldavido1: Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff

Eldavido1:

When Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (SAS) wanted to contest the 2003 Borno governorship election, he needed thugs and youth organisations to serve as campaign machinery. So he contacted Mohammed Yusuf the late BH leader who agreed to campaign for him but with a promise SAS will implement total sharia in borno state. After he won the election SAS appointed a member of BH Buji Foi as commissioner but refused implementing total sharia in the state. That didn't go down well with Yusuf and BH. Buji Foi subsequently resign his position as commissioner in protest. SAS reacted by outlawing BH, demolish their mosque and started arresting their members. This led to escalation in the crisis with subsequent drafting of the military to quell it by late president Musa Yar’Adua. So BH always have this hatered for the dude, feeling betrayed by him.

oweniwe:

see his fat mouth and neck like cowbell