Former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu
Sheriff, has said he will seek redress in court
by suing the Australian negotiator, Dr.
Stephen Davies, who recently fingered him
as one of the sponsors of the Boko Haram
insurgency.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday,
Sheriff said he would also drag the
leadership of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) to court for repeating the same
allegation.
Sheriff, who insisted that the accusation
was part of the campaign of calumny
against him, said he was prepared to face
any probe panel that is aimed at addressing
the Boko Haram phenomenon.
“I'm ready to face any panel in the world
that is set up to clear my name. I'm ready
for any investigation. But I would sue the
faceless Stephen Davies and the APC
leadership that repeated the lies told by the
Australian,” he said.
He said he was shocked at the statements
credited to the National Chairman of APC,
Chief John Oyegun, that Davies' allegations
were true.
“You can see the type of leaders we have.
Oyegun was in my house the other day
urging me to rejoin the party. Then he's
now making this kind of comment," he
disclosed, blaming his defection from the
APC to the PDP for his travails.
Reading from a press statement, he noted
that “as much as I do not consider changing
one's political party an anathema, I am
particularly concerned that my defection
from the APC to PDP seems to further
galvanise my detractors who have
converted the matter into a political
weapon".
“Even as the brain behind the whole
charade, the All Progressives Congress (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 politicise such
a serious issue like security, I am compelled
to correct Chief Oyegun's faulty
generalisations and judgemental 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,” he said.
Sheriff said he doubted the authenticity of
Davies’ press interview, wondering why the
negotiator did not make his findings known
to the federal government that
commissioned him.
The former governor said he believed the
Australian was acting out a script designed
to embarrass him.
On the issue of the sponsorship of Boko
Haram, Sheriff said it was a ploy to evade
the main issues concerning the insurgency,
tracing the origin of the sect to the late
Governor Mala Kachalla regime.
He insisted that it was Kachalla who started
the introduction and implementation of
Sharia in Borno State.
According to Sheriff, “That could be said to
be the starting point of the sect's
ascendancy as the executed leader of the
insurgents, Mohammed Yusuf, featured
prominently in Kachalla's effort at
establishing Sharia.”
He added: “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
perusal.
“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.
“While in office as governor, I did my best to
curtail the activities of the sect. I have never
associated myself with any terrorist in any
part of the world. I have never in my life
met Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the
Boko Haram sect, who died in
circumstances that are being investigated.”
He recalled that Yusuf was arrested by the
police and military authorities in a situation
he had no control over apart from providing
logistics for the officers.
Commenting on his relationship with a
leader of the sect and former Commissioner
for Religious Affairs, the late Buju Foi,
Sheriff said Foi was already the chairman of
a local government before he made him a
commissioner in his cabinet, pointing out
that Foi was the nominee from his local
government.
“Buju Foi was the choice of his own people
and that is why he became part of my
government,” he said.
Sheriff maintained that he is a victim of the
insurgency and not a sponsor, adding that
he lost his brother and many other
associates to the insurgents.
“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 did not
abdicate my responsibilities of protecting
the lives and property of the people and did
not give them (Boko Haram) 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 losses from
the crisis.
“Amongst those killed in cold blood were my
younger brother, the late Alhaji Goni
Mustapha Sheriff, the defunct ANPP state
chairman and my brother in-law, the late
Alhaji Awana Ngala, the gubernatorial
candidate of our party in the 2011
elections, the late Modu Fannami Gubio, my
bossom friends, Alhaji Mustapha Fulawama
and Bukar Goni Kols, and a host of other
close political associates. May their gentle
souls rest in peace,” he said.
www.thisdaylive.com/articles/sheriff-to-sue-apc-davies-insists-he-s-not-a-sponsor-of-boko-haram/188142/

Whom do we belive now

mr davies said he is waiting for u to come and sue him, and APC is against u, cos u refuse to join them that's why d outcry against u abi? ok we are waiting for u to exonerate urself

Akuko Mike Ejeano!

How many times have they "branded" Gen. Buhari bh sponsor but he remains unshaken due to his pure conscience!

Sheriff should wipe his crocodile tears and tell us what he knows about Boko haram....... Shikenan!

Space booked

arewanationz: How many times have they "branded" Gen. Buhari bh sponsor but he remains unshaken due to his pure conscience!

Sheriff should wipe his crocodile tears and tell us what he knows about Boko haram....... Shikenan!

I think you are right and Mr president should do something about it as fast as possible.