Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, on Wednesday insisted that his claim that a northern governor was a commander of the Boko Haram Islamist group was true and that he would not retract it.
The development economist spoke inn Jos, Plateau State, shortly after he was released by the Department of Security Services which invited him for questioning over his comments on a radio programme. He was grilled by the spy Police for at least five hours, but was later released unconditionally.
Mailafia reported at the DSS office in Jos in the company of a number of dignitaries, including his wife, Margaret; his lawyer, Pius Akubo , SAN; Plateau State Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Bawa and Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam.
There were also various socio-cultural organisations from the Middle Belt, who demanded his release.
As reactions continue to trail Mailafia’s declaration, the Northern Governors’ Forum has called for a probe into the allegations.
Mailafia had declared on the radio programme that repentant Boko Haram fighters had told him that a serving governor from the north was a commander of the group. They also told him that members of the group had clandestinely spread across Nigeria and would start a civil war in the country in 2022.
Nigeria is currently witnessing rising waves of killings, kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the country. Mailafia said the people responsible for these acts are Boko Haram members.
Addressing journalists after his release, he said there was no read for him to retract his statement. “If I retract anything, I won’t be able to leave this place. I am a man of peace; I am not a man of violence.
“I must never give up on Nigeria, if need be, I will die for Nigeria,” he said.
He said he would speak up against the current wave of insecurity ravaging the country, noting that he was ready to die for the country, if need be.
In a statement on Wednesday, Simon Lalong, Governor of Plateau Stat and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, said Mailafia’s allegation must be investigated.
“We, as Northern governors, have met severally to discuss insecurity in the region and the nation at large where we did not only condemn the activities of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, bandits and other criminals, but also engaged the President and all heads of security agencies in finding solutions to the problem.
“To now say that one of our members is leading Boko Haram is a serious allegation that cannot be swept under the carpet. We demand immediate and thorough investigation,” he declared.
