In a face-saving move to clear a battered image, the former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, has threatened to sue Australian Boko Haram negotiator, Stephen Davis, for revealing that he was one of the sponsors of the Boko Haram sect.
Davis had said on an international television that Sheriff and former Army Chief, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, are the major sponsors of the sect as revealed to him by leaders of the Boko Haram group.
On Tuesday, the All Progressives Congress, from which Sheriff moved over to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from where he had earlier decamped, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of shielding “his friends” who have been accused of sponsoring insurgency.
The party said it had always doubted Sheriff while he was in the APC and dealt with him cautiously as they knew him as a soiled image.
At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff denied any link with the sect saying he would sue for defamation. He said the campaign against him is callous and unwarranted.
He also said all those linking him with Boko Haram were either ignorant or completely out for mischief.
Sheriff said: “I condole with the people of Borno, particularly the people of Bama, Gwoza and Gamboru over the recent attacks.
“My name has been mentioned for political reasons over the attacks of Boko Haram.
“I have been accused unfairly in connection with Boko Haram since I left office.
“For the records, let me state categorically that I do not share the same ideology with Boko Haram. By my nature, I am opposed to the philosophy of Boko Haram.
“The recent purported interview granted by Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis, could not avail the Federal Government of the information concerning the alleged sponsors of Boko Haram, but he sneaked out of the country to make false claims.
“It is instructive to point out that I have been one of the greatest victims of Borno. I was a target of Boko Haram during my time because I refused to abdicate my responsibility.
“Among those killed by Boko Haram was my younger brother, Alhaji Goni. Some of my friends and associates were killed in cold blood by Boko Haram.”
Continuing, he said: “for the records, the late leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, once named me, Umaru Yar’Adua and some other leaders as targets. He boasted he would deal with all of us.
“I banned Boko Haram. I was the one who made a law that outlawed the group. The sect later changed its name. And in spite of our efforts, the group continued to wreak havoc.
“The sect has become captive of political forces and used for settling political scores.
“I have no association with any terrorists anywhere. I have never met the group. I cannot be a sponsor of a group I have not met before.
“Today, there are ten thousand members of Boko Haram terrorizing our people. All my actions as governor were to guide my people right.
“The fact that one of my commissioners, Buji Koi, was named as member of the group does not make me a member. It doesn’t make sense.
“I leave the rest for Nigerians to judge whether it is a crime to do good to all men. I will sue the Australian. I have instructed my lawyers to sue the faceless Australian.
“I don’t have foot soldiers, as they alleged. The allegation that some foot soldiers who turned against me became Boko Haram is not true.”
Noting that he was recently invited by the Department of State Service (DSS), he said the invitation was for a different issue than to probe his connection with the Boko Haram.
He expressed readiness to face any panel in the world just to clear his name of Boko Haram.
Davis, the negotiator, had said his comment was not political but that he was moved to reveal the true identities of those behind the sect due to the suffering of the captives in the Boko Haram enclaves.
He also said he became frustrated in the negotiation process because of the Federal Government’s lukewarm attitude towards the fight against insurgency.
