The naming of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the former governor of Borno state as the PDP National Chairman and successor to Alhaji Adamu Muazu has generated a lot of controversy in the polity. A prominent member of this forum and staunch critic of PDP, who I consider my brother, friend, and big boss called me to mock the decision of the party. In all honesty, my reaction was more of wearing a sad face that I joined him in the mockery. Who would accept the fact that an "alleged Boko Haram founder" has been saddled with the task of navigating a party that is so engrossed in controversy and is in dire need of leadership? My initial displeasure wasn't hidden even towards some of my PDP comrades.

However, I made up my mind to thoroughly appreciate the man Modu Sheriff and to holistically look at issues that surround his tag as Boko-Haram "founder" to establish whether or not such a moral burden on him is justified.

Sheriff: A Boko Haram Sponsor or Victim of Blackmail?
The Belief...
Before now there is this belief that Ali Modu Sheriff in preparation to 2003 election against then incumbent Malla Kachalla entered into agreement with the Yusufyya BH movement. According to "belief", the Yusufiyya group would support Modu Sheriff's gubernatorial bid on condition that Sheriff's government(if elected) would implement Sharia rule in Borno state. It is also believed Sheriff's appointment of Haramite Alhaji Buji Foi, the National Secretary of Yusufyya Movement as commissioner for religious affairs was in furtherance of the "agreement".

The Facts...
As much as I would not want to draw myself into "defending" anybody associated with BH, I think it will be appropriate to lay this issue to bare. Facts on ground shows that sharia system was adopted in Borno state on August 18, 2000, the law was tagged 'Borno State Sharia Administration of Justice Law 2000'. It came just over a year after Sheriff's predecessor Bala Kachalla took office and almost three years before Sheriff took office. This fact ordinarily should nullify the rumour of purported agreement between Sheriff and Yusufiyya movement prior to 2003 election.
www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/887355.stm

It is even a fact that on adoption of Sharia system in Borno state in 2000, then Governor Bala Kachalla constituted Borno State Sharia Law Implementation Committee in February, 2001 headed by Professor Abubakar Mustapha, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, with Boko Haram leader Muhammed Yusuf as a member of the committee. If there is anyone that Yusufyya would have supported in 2003 would have been Bala Kachalla, who flew the AD ticket for re-election but lost woefully to Sheriff. Why should Yusuf not support Kachalla when he not only approved Sharia system but also appointed Yusuf into Sharia Implementation Committee?

With respect to the appointment of Alhaji Buji Foi as commissioner of religious affairs, facts on ground showed that before his appointment as commissioner, Foi was Chairman of Kaga LGA(Borno state) under the administration of Bala Kachalla. It is not uncommon to see incumbent governors' appoint former LGA bosses into their cabinet. There is no record to show any public knowlege of Foi BH activity before his appointment. It is pertinent to note that Foi resigned from Sheriff's cabinet to join forces with the sect because the sect saw Sheriff's government as a number one enemy.

If indeed Sheriff was a "founder" of BH movement how come it was his predecessor in office that had direct link with Muhammed Yusuf and Buji Foi? How come it was his government that first declared BH as terrorist group in May 2010 even before the FG(2013), UK(2014) and USA(2014) declared the group as such? How come the group killed his brother Alhaji Goni Mustapha Sheriff, brother-inlaw Alhaji Awana Ngala, and ANPP Guber candidate for 2011 Engr, Modu Fannami Gubio? Who will kill his own paymaster? Why didn't the group help him win 2011 Senatorial election even when his party(ANPP) won the governorship poll, Presidential poll and two seats in the Senate in the said 2011 election?

When Did APC Realise That Sheriff Is a Baggage?
Sheriff has been a member of the opposition since 1998/9. After he left power in 2011, he was appointed BoT Chairman of ANPP, that has John Oyegun(now APC Chairman) as member and also Ogbonnaya Onu(now a minister) as chairman of the party(ANPP). As BoT Chairman of ANPP, he was instrumental to the merger of ANPP, ACN and faction of APGA that formed the APC. He was also a member of APC Board of Trustees between 2013 till he left the party. He wasn't kicked out of APC, he voluntarily resigned to pitch tent with the then ruling PDP. Now I beg to ask, when did APC realise that Sheriff was a baggage?

It is pertinent to note that prominent Borno politicians linked with BH members are members of APC including; late Senator Ahmed Zanna and Senator Ali Ndume. On October 8, 2012 the JTF spokesman Lt Col Sagir Musa released a statement to say that a BH commander Shuaibu Muhammed Bama was arrested in the house of Senator Ahmed Zanna(APC). Zanna only claim was that Bama was/is his nephew and he wasn't arrested in his house. In fact, DSS had to invite Zanna for "questioning". Despite this, the APC still went on to present Zanna for Senate in 2015(which he won but died before inauguration). Similarly, the APC still presented Sen Ali Ndume for Senate in 2015 despite the fact that he was indicted for divulging phone numbers of prominent Nigerians to BH sect and is presently under trial for terrorism charge. If APC could present these two indicted men for election, if they could massively campaign for them, how then are they crying over Sheriff's appointment as PDP boss?

On Sheriff's Appointment As PDP Boss:
As much as I am not too disposed to the former Borno state Governor, I still believe that it is unfair to base opinion on him due to prejudice instead of established fact. As a party loyalist and patriotic Nigerian, I owe it a responsibility to stand for just cause for Nigeria(where my ultimate loyalty lies) and PDP(that I'm aligned with). As such, I think party members should look beyond prejudice and support the new leadership under Senator Modu Sheriff. It is my prayer that the party under Sheriff carry everyone along, bring in the youth, and take the party to greater height.

Finally, is Sheriff the best man for PDP top job? Only time will tell. All I can say is "Welcome onboard Mr Chairman".





May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria

Having said all you have said by trying to paint the new PDP sheriff as a non BH, the dark clouds of his connections with BH cannot be totally cleared. Furthermore, our current president was also 'accused' of sponsoring BH which were ultimately false. I believe that Sheriff appointment as PDP chairman has nailed a final blow to the PDP coffin as we know it. Perhaps the PDP know something that we don't know and maybe Modu sheriff will be like the 'Undertaker' that rises PDP from the coffin. Only time will tell.

I tried reading but my brain no gree load. I would check back before the year runs out, that's if there's still a party called PDP by then.

Let's wait n see what he can offer bt Sheriff as PDP chairman I swear my belle dey pain me.

I feel good about his nomination, haters go siddon. Barcanista I have read your previous posts I don't think you are a PDP loyalist it seems you are more APC inclined

@Tonye, you did well but no matter how appealing you try to make this appointment look, I think it was miscalculated by the PDP hierarchy.

SAS is too controversial; a local champ and he does not command so much followership. Except, of course, this is a case of the more you look the less you see. What really is the PDP up to?

The onus is on A modu sheriff traducers to prove he's a BH sponsor whilst PDP has a herculean task convincing Nigerians that he ain't.

Not an easy task for a party trying to rebrand due to recent corruption allegations/trials.

Ali modu-Bokoharam

As usual, you have come to the wailers rescue

Its is only a f.oo.l or someone with short memory that will link distinguished senator sherrif with boko-haram,as a governor his administration was the main enemy of BH(their archrival) with two senators from his state strongly and openly opposing his crack down on the sect activities(this two senators are APC members)

Ali Modu Sheriff has taken PDP backwards with his emergence.



Say no to Ali Modu Sheriff

PDP needs a leader that can rebrand and reposition the party ahead of 2019 general election. Considering the general perception that the party is made up majorly corrupt and greedy individuals, the choice of chairman should not be someone that comes with this hefty boko haram baggage.

BOT members who represent the conscience of the party have rejected him. In fact, that you have to come here to try explain away his boko haram baggage is an indication that something is wrong with his candidature. Is there no clean person with lesser baggage left in PDP that can lead the party at this point in time? Head or tail, Ali Modu Sheriff is not a great choice.

temitemi1:
Let's wait n see what he can offer bt Sheriff as PDP chairman I swear my belle dey pain me.

Based on

TheFreeOne:
The onus is on Amodu sheriff traducers to prove he's a BH sponsor.

We need to condemn his emergence in strong terms. We are not Zombies that use such terms when it comes to Amaechi and corruption

PDP leadership don settle Barcanista

nice one and welcome back Home.

Wrong move by the ailing Pdp...
But barca why didn't you cc your comrades?

Ok, we are watching

All politicians are the same!

Did u know d secret deal btw yusuf and pdp boss?that led to their disagreement?

When sheriff was in apc, it was ipob and pdpian that name sheriff bh sponsorer, d title was given to by pdp, that is how nemesis caught-up with u wailers, the same man u call bh is now ur boss, that is why ffk is ashame of is own shadow, ffk mouth were too wide in calling ur new found boss boko haram,

In the aforemention reason, when ur boss switch to pdp, apc have to call him by d title given ur boss by u wailers,

Plsss enjoy ur boko haram boss, as a confirmation that pdp is boko haram, bh ais pdp. Cheer

Ecoterrorism:
We need to condemn his emergence in strong terms. We are not Zombies that use such terms when it comes to Amaechi and corruption

I am not a PDP member so there's little I can do about that, however the rationale behind his emergence is what I don't understand for now.

Maybe the governors that supported his emergence have something up their sleeves that we don't know

Ecoterrorism:
We need to condemn his emergence in strong terms. We are not Zombies that use such terms when it comes to Amaechi and corruption

yes you're right but we should look it from another angel

inasmuch as i don't have anything against Sherrif I think he being the chairman with all these scandal is not a good idea.
in developed countries such person with such scandal should have retired from public office long ago.

well we'll just wait and see what he can offer but honestly it's a bad idea choosing him because it has given apc a moral boost to talk because lately the gworo chewing bastard mumuhamado mumuharii is busy destroying Nigeria and it's a shameful thing for them.

well all i know is that pdp will be back

Nice one OP!

Anytime i remember boko haram , i remember Ali Modu Sheriff. Just like FFK said, PDP need serious prayer. PDP need to dsipose this Ali Modu Sheriff as their chairman. Nigerians need vibratant opposition that will give APC constructive criticism. Having Ali Modu Sheriff at the top office in PDP means that PDP is not ready to challange APC.


God Bless Nigeria

LRNZH:
Why is this one always sold to the dogs?

The point is that SAS (Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff) is termed a Boko Haram sponsor, not founder.

That you people will come and change the narrative for politicking purposes will put the blood of the victims from the insurgency on your collective hands.

OP, beware of what you defend!

BH Sponsor as in how? You should at least show us how he's linked to sponsoring BH.

PS: I will never absolve anyone from BH activities when/if indicted, and I think we all should work with fact on ground and be fair to people

Modu Sheriff simply does not have the charisma to lead a waning political party as PDP

@Tonyebarcanista, are you no longer in APC

I don't understand you at all. Anyways, I am surprised that PDP will settle for Sherif as party chairman.

TonyeBarcanista:
BH Sponsor as in how? You should at least show us how he's linked to sponsoring BH.

PS: I will never absolve anyone from BH activities when/if indicted, and I think we all should work with fact on ground and be fair to people

They also accused General Ihejirika of being a boko haram sponsor.

interesting