Former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, accused of sponsoring the activities of the terrorist Boko Haram sect, has described the allegations as callous and unwarranted, saying he is prepared to face any panel in the world to clear my name.
Sheriff has also vowed to drag Stephen Davis, the Australian negotiator who recently made the allegation, to court in order to prove his innocence.
In a widely publicised interview last week, Davis, who is one of the international negotiators trying to secure the release of the over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram members in Chibok, Borno State, named Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, as financiers of the terrorist group.
But at a press briefing in Abuja Wednesday, the former governor said that those linking him with the deadly sect are doing so for political reasons.
“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,” Sheriff said.
He went further to state, “It is instructive to point out that I have been one of the greatest victims of Boko Haram. 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.”
The former governor also reminded his accusers that Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, once threatened to attack him, the late President Umara Yar’Adua and some other eminent Nigerians before he outlawed the sect in the state.
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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.”