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Tag: Sheriff

  • Ex-ministers to Jonathan: we don’t want Sheriff

    Ex-ministers to Jonathan: we don’t want Sheriff

    Party’s future uncertain as ex-president backs governors’ choice of chairman

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders remained disunited last night over the choice of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as acting chairman.

    The choice has pitched President Goodluck Jonathan against members of his former cabinet.

    Jonathan backed Sheriff but some of his ministers disagreed.

    The ex-ministers said they might review their membership of the PDP should Sheriff’s candidacy be upheld.

    About 15 ex-ministers in Jonathan’s cabinet met last night in Asokoro, vowing to resist the Sheriff’s imposition

    The ministers’ session was still on as at 8.30pm.

    It was learnt that Dr. Jonathan has called to congratulate Sheriff who he allegedly described as “the right choice for the opposition”.

    A top source said: “Jonathan believes that Sheriff has the guts, influence, native wisdom and the wherewithal to lead PDP to displace the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Jonathan and the governors teamed up to choose Sheriff who was part of the leaders who coordinated the merger of parties into the APC.

    “Their aim is to have an opposition with much bite in the light of the way the APC government is exposing Jonathan’s tenure.

    “They are looking at the rough side of politics towards 2019 and they think Sheriff can withstand the APC.”

    A source at the ex-ministers’ session said: “We are parting ways with ex-President Jonathan if he is adamant on Sheriff. The battle line is drawn. We respect our principal, but he got it wrong this time around.

    “We do not need Sheriff to reform PDP. And he cannot actually lead the party for some obvious reasons. He is not a team player and he has many controversies surrounding his style of politics.

    “We knew the NWC and the governors have a different agenda. With Sheriff, the PDP cannot go far in 2019. Jonathan and these leaders should listen to the Board of Trustees (BOT) members.

    “Jonathan can afford to take the risk with Sheriff because he has reached a dead end politically. We will not allow the ex-President to ruin our own future. Public perception does not favour Sheriff.”

    The spokesman for former ministers in Jonathan’s administration, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, in a terse statement in Abuja, said: “Our rescue mission has failed, the redemption boat has capsized and our journey to recovery has come to an end.

    “Whosoever partook in the decision does not mean well for the party and democracy in Nigeria. It is obvious the fifth columnists have hijacked the party and they are hell bent on sinking it deeper into irrecoverable level of the pit.

    “Some of us would rather review our membership than subject ourselves to selfish interests of a cabal whose main goal is political profiteering. After all our umbilical cord is not tied to any party.”

    A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) insisted: “we subjected all the candidates to a rigorous test and it was Sheriff that excelled”.

    Sheriff did not officially take over at the secretariat yesterday but was in Umuahia for his first official shuttle – the thanksgiving service by Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    He reiterated that he will lead the party to victory in 2019.

    He said: “We are here today, we are starting from here, and we are going to Aso Rock, Insha Allah by 2019.

    “We will head from here and we will do it together. This  my long cap is prepared to lead my colleagues and brothers to Aso Rock, Insha Allah.

    “By the grace of Allah, nothing will deter this party from going to Aso Rock in 2019. By the time we put down our master-plan I am sure they (APC) will go back to where they came from. And Insha Allah, nothing will stop us.

    ”From what I have seen in the stadium, it is clear that his (Ikpeazu’s) election is the election of the people. It is election that God has destined. It is not election that we call it election by air, election by writing. This is the election of the people.”

     

  • Governors: we trust Sheriff to reposition PDP

    Governors: we trust Sheriff to reposition PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Governors Forum yesterday  expressed confidence in the ability of National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff, to reposition the party and make it more inclusive.

    A statement by the Coordinator of the forum, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, yesterday in Abuja quoted the governors as saying the choice of Sheriff, ex-governor and senator, came after a careful deliberation, given the battle ahead.

    “Sheriff is coming on the job with immense wealth of experience and will, no doubt, use his vast network to rebuild the party.

    “He will restore members’ confidence and act as a counterforce to the many antics of the present APC regime.”

    The governors urged the national chairman to avoid all diversionary tactics and work toward uniting all aggrieved members and fashion out modalities to woo new party faithful.

    “We urge you to shun all diversionary tactics that might be thrown at you and concentrate on how to bring all aggrieved party members together; as well as fashion out ways to woo new members, especially the youths.

    “The forum is solidly behind you and will deploy its support to ensure that the shared vision for our party is realised as we prepare for 2019.”

    The governors said the situation in the country was an opportunity for Sheriff to show that the PDP remained the only truly national party that could reunite the country.

  • Sheriff: What future for PDP?

    Sheriff: What future for PDP?

    Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff is the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the challenges that will confront him.

    His ambition has been to lead a national political party. He worked hard for it in the past, but the opportunity eluded him. Ali Modu Sheriff, rich businessman, one-time senator and former governor of Borno State, wanted to make history as the pioneer National Chairman of the All progressives Party (APC) during its maiden national congress in Abuja, almost two years ago. But, powerful forces within the party doubted his capacity to lead it to victory during elections.

    However, the controversial politician fulfilled his dream on Tuesday. Contrary to popular expectation, Sheriff succeeded Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as the chairman of the traumatised, decimated and crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is yet to recover from its defeat at the last general elections. He was selected and endorsed as the party leader by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) at their joint meeting in Abuja. The onus is on the gladiator from Northeast to reposition the platform, foster cohesion and resolve the party’s multiple crises.

    Sheriff was born in Ngala, Ngala Local Government Area in 1956. His father, Galadima Modu Sheriff was a businessman. He attended Government Secondary School, Bama, between 1974 and 1979. He studied Insurance, Banking and Finance at the London School of Business. In 1981, he became a director in his father’s construction company, and later rose to become the managing director.  He is the owner of two companies-Meroil Organisation and Union Chase. A consummate politician, he rose to prominence in the Third Republic when he was elected as a senator on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC).  Her opponent was Kolo Kingibe, wife of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Chairman,  Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe. In 1994, he was also a member of the Constitutional Conference where he shared the Committee on States and Local Government.

    In 1998, Sheriff was elected as a senator on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in Borno Central District. But, the transition programme was aborted, following the death of the military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. In April 1999, he was elected as senator on the platform of the ANPP.  But, after the expiration of his tenure as governor, Sheriff appeared to face a career ceiling in politics.

    The position of the PDP national chairman, which has now brought him to the front burner, became vacant last year, following Muazu’s resignation. The former Bauchi State governor left office after coming under attacks, following the defeat of the party during last year’s presidential election. Following his exit, his deputy, Chief Uche Secondus, was asked to hold the forte in an acting capacity.  However, following a suit by former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak, the court nullified Secondus’ selection as the acting chairman, saying that it was null and void.

    Sheriff served as senator on the platform of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) between 1999 and 2003. He succeeded the late Mala Kachalla as governor of Borno in 2007. He was re-elected as governor in 2007. After he left office, he served as the Chairman of the ANPP Board of Trustees (BoT). He was a very popular governor. Today, many have insinuated that, if he had prevented restiveness in the state in the past, it may not have snowballed into terrorism. Many have chided his alleged intimate identification with the Boko Haram sect since he was accused of being its sponsor by the Australian hostage negotiator, Steven Davies. However, Borno was not bankrupt when he handed over. In fact, he left billions of money in the coffers of the state for his successor. For this, he has also come under attack. Many felt that, if the money had been used to provide social amenities and welfare programmes for the restless youths, perhaps, the situation would have been different in the troubled Northeast.

    When he was in the APC, Sheriff was labelled a Boko Haram sponsor. But, immediately he crossed over to the PDP, the label was removed. He was on the entourage of former President Goodluck Jonathan to Niger, where they met with President Idriss Deby to seek regional support against insurgents.

    Sheriff had shunned the temptation to defect to the PDP, despite the carrots dangled at him in the past. He was a committed ANPP leader. When the opposition parties resolved to forge a common front, which led to the birth of the APC, Sheriff’s colleagues believed that he was also reluctant. The former governor thought that he would be dwarfed by colourful politicians from other zones, who were likely to occupy central positions in the emerging organisation. When he was persuaded to join the merger, he peeped into the future. His camp encouraged him to show more commitment, stressing that he had a chance of becoming the chairman. But, having elevated personal ambition over the goal of power shift, he retraced his steps after he lost out at the congress. Sherrif defected to the PDP and campaigned for former President Gooduck Jonathan’s second term. Other defectors to the PDP included Chief Tom Ikimi, former governors of Sokoto and Kano states, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau. While Ikimi left because he was not endorsed as the chairmanship candidate, the grouse of the former governors was that the party sidelined them by making governors party leaders in their respective states.

    But, little did Sheriff guess that his influence was fading. Despite his campaigns in Borno, he could not match the goodwill of Governor Kashim Shettima. Unknown to the former governor, he was no longer the strongman of Borno politics. Kashim, who he assisted to assume the reins as his successor, had started to assert his personality. It was an irony of fate that the party leader, who boasted of assisting the former university teacher to get the ANPP ticket, lost his senatorial election in 2011. The governor’s supporters even heaved a sigh of relief, following Sheriff’s defection from the APC, saying that the siege was over. In their view, the coast was clear for the hardworking governor to wield the party together and concentrate on his developmental projects without partisan distractions.

     

    What future for PDP as opposition platform

    Sheriff is assuming the leadership of the PDP at a dull moment. Eyes were not on him as the Northeast PDP Caucus prepared for the selection. But, the former governor has a deep purse. He is reputed for financial generosity. A party source said the chieftains may have settled for him because of his financial capacity. Thus, what observers have described as his baggage was overlooked. His emergence may have attested to the fact that he is popular among the members of the PDP bloc that insisted on his candidature.

    As the party prepared for the selection, four aspirants were in contention. The aspirants – Wilberforce Juta, Alhaji Abba Gana, Alhaji Giri Lawal and Dr. Saidu Kumo – intensified their lobbying across the six geo-political zones, ahead of the NWC and NEC meeting on Tuesday. Shedding light on the meeting, PDP’s local chapter  Chairman in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa,  said the six zonal chapters have resolved to select Muazu’s successor from the Northeast to complete his term in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice.

    He added: “Other zones are not interested in denying the Northeast of the opportunity to select another competent chieftain to succeed Alhaji Muazu. This time, the party is being careful not to repeat the mistake of the past.

    “Therefore, the selection is the affair of the Northeast caucus. After the caucus agreed on his candidature, his name will be taken to the national body for ratification.”

    The four aspirants were nominated by their state chapters. Juta, a Second Republic governor of Gongola State, was nominated by the Adamawa State chapter. He is a founding member of the PDP. He was a member of the G-34 that formed the nucleus of the party. His candidature reportedly enjoyed the backing of other founding chieftains, including former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who are pushing for the restoration of the original ideals of a responsive and people-oriented party. A veteran politician, Juta was a deputy governor under former Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP) Governor Mohammadu Goni of Gongola State.

    Abba-Gana, a strong member of the party from Northeast, was nominated by Borno State chapter. He is a former Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The engineer had rejected entreaties to defect from the party before and after the last general elections. He campaigned vigorously for the second term ambition of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Lawal, the PDP National Vice Chairman (Northeast), was nominated by Yobe State. He defected to the party from the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). Kumo was nominated by Gombe State. However, Taraba and Bauchi states did not nominate any aspirant for the position.

    Many thought that the contest was between Juta and Gana, who are founding members.

    “The sentiment is for the restoration of the values of the original founders of the PDP. Therefore, the perception is that those who were there at the beginning are likely to return the party to its glorious past. That is why the odds may favour either Juta or Abba-Gana,” a party chieftain had said before Sheriff’s emergence.

     

    Fayose, Wike as godfathers

    But, a powerful bloc in the party was said to have rejected the aspirants. Even, when the name of Mallam Nuhu Ridadu came up, stakeholders rejected his candidature. The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) abstained from the meeting. Up came Sheriff, backed by the powerful forces, of which Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, were arrowheads.

    Initially, some party chieftains from Lagos and Ekiti states wanted the Southwest to contest for the position. But, Olaoluwa said the Southwest did not contest the chairmanship because the zone has its eyes on 2018 when a new congress will hold to elect a new leadership. He added: “Since 1999, the Southwest has played a prominent role in the growth and development of the PDP. No chieftain from the Southwest has served as the National Chairman. I believe that, in the spirit of zoning, it will be our turn in the Southwest after the tenure of the current NEC expires.”

     

    The task ahead

    Sheriff has inherited more liabilities than assets. The PDP’s sphere of influence in the polity is shrinking. But, the Southeast and some parts of the Southsouth are its strongholds. In the Southeast, the PDP has succeeded in checking the incursion of the APC.

    Opinion is divided on Sheriff’s new role. The new chairman is being placed on the scale of integrity and credibility. The public perception of his personality may have implications for the PDP as an opposition platform. Not a few chieftains of the PDP were taken aback by Sheriff’s emergence. To such chieftains, the party made a wrong choice. Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode said: “If we insist on making wrong choices about our leadership and if we keep taking people for granted, not only will we be finished as a party, but the entire country will suffer the consequences of our errors and inexplicable ways.”

    To succeed, analysts believe that Sheriff should initiate a comprehensive agenda for reconciliation and crisis resolution.

    The chairman is a new comer who has to familiarise himself with the party organs, zonal and state structures. He will have to be inducted into party tradition, ethics and ethos, which are quite different from the familiar terrains in the defunct ANPP and APC, the tendencies within the national party and crises across board.

    Following his emergence, crisis broke out. This has made reconciliation more compelling as he assumes duties. The lack of consensus during the selection of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur made the seat hotter for him. His tenure was full of tension, making him to resign.  Except Col. Ahmadu Ali (Rtd), no PDP chairman has enjoyed stability of tenure. They were either forced out or consumed by crisis. The pioneer chairman, the late Chief Solomon Lar was shoved aside by the party leader, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. His successor, Chief Barnabas Gemade, was replaced by Chief Audu Ogbeh. Both chieftains are now in the APC. In fact, Gemade cursed the party, saying that the fate that befell him will also befall his predecessors. Ogbeh was forced to resign. Also, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor ran into turbulence, which drew the curtains on his tenure. Okwesilieze Nwodo, who took over from him, had to leave unceremoniously. The Secretary, Dr. Haliru Bello, acted as the chairman. Tukur’s tenure was marred by crisis. When he was removed, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, acted as chairman. When the party was ousted from power, the agitation for Muazu’s removal filled the air.

     

    Will Sheriff survive?

    Sheriff is taking his seat at a time party chieftains are standing trials over allegations of corruption. The image of the PDP has been dented by the behaviours of its leaders, particularly those allegedly involved in the Armsgate.  Standing trial are the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, Bello and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.

    Many Nigerians are angry with the PDP over the dismal performance of former President Jonathan. They believe that his ineptitude aggravated the economic problems being tackled by the Buhari administration.

    Some PDP founding members have been campaigning for a return to the party’s old vision. This vision may not be understood by the new chairman, unless he is tutored. It revolves around the sanctity of its constitutions and conventions, especially zoning and consensus building, crisis resolution, commitment to equity, fairness and justice, and service delivery to Nigerians. The PDP has not been an ideological party. Lucid manifestos are alien to it. Party supremacy is at the mercy of its leader. Party discipline is strange and at the state level, governors are lords of the manor.

     

    Can the chair bring back defectors?

    Can Sheriff lead the party to victory in 2019? Can he stem the tide of defections? Can he offer a credible opposition to the APC? Can he broker truce in crisis-ridden zones and chapters? The PDP’s fortune dimmed in the North during the last general elections. Out of 19 states, only two – Gombe and Taraba – are under the PDP. The turn of events is worrisome to a party hitherto acclaimed the largest in Africa. Ogbolafor, ones boasted that the PDP would rule the country for 60 years. But, Nigerians, with their votes on March 28 and April 14, last year, aborted the prediction. In the West, PDP is in the minority. Although it is the party in power in Ondo and Ekiti states, there are signals that the two states may slip off its grip. In Ondo, for instance, there have been defections to the APC, ahead of the governorship poll coming up later in the year.

    In the Southwest, there is no PDP zonal leadership. Since the removal of Segun Oni, former Ekiti State governor, as the zonal leader and National Vice Chairman and his erstwhile Osun State counterpart, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as National Secretary, it has been difficult to get replacements. Amid the chaos, the duo of Oni and Oyilola left for the APC.

    Today, the state chapters are enveloped in crisis. In Lagos, the PDP is polarised. The differences between former Deputy Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George, a retired Commodore and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has not been resolved. The chapter is factionalised. While majority believes that Capt. Tunji Shelle, who has George’s backing, is the authentic chairman, those loyal to Obanikoro are queuing behind Hammid Olorunoje as the factional chairman.

    In Oyo, there are four factions. They revolve around former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who left the party during the last general elections, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, former Minister of State for FCT and Senator Teslim Folarin, the former PDP governorship candidate.

    In Ogun, the party is ailing. The leadership crisis was carried over to the last election. There is a war of attrition between the Jubril Martins Kuye (JMK) Group and the Mandate Group led by Senator Buruji Kashamu. Also, there is a deep gulf between former Governor Gbenga Daniel and Kashamu. The morale of party members is down, except in the Ijebu/Remo areas.

    In Ekiti, where the PDP is in control, there is division. Many foremost members have defected to the ruling party. They include former party officers, legislators and commissioners. Even, those who have not defected are not seeing eye-to-eye with the governor. Recently, Fayose pronounced himself as the Leader of Opposition. He is a strong character. Following his allegation of anti-party activity against Muazu, the former chairman ran into credibility crisis. But, can the new chairman manage Fayose?

    In Ondo, the PDP has challenges. There is division, following the inconclusive harmonisation between old and new members. Scores of chieftains are defecting, citing personalisation of power and politics of exclusion by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    In Anambra, gladiators are at war. A former senator, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, whose election was voided by the Appeal Court, left the party to take another shot at the National Assembly under the APC platform. She lost out at the party’s primary. Two siblings – Andy and Chris Uba are at loggerheads over who actually won the party’s senatorial ticket.  There is question mark on the membership of senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah, following the sacking of the state executive that conducted their primaries.

  • Truly, a new sheriff is in town

    SIR: It is now very clear to most people in Nigeria, and even the international community after sixteen years of democratic clowning, that Nigeria’s public sector and governance instruments can really work to ensure law and order in the conduct of human relations and business activities for a balanced social order.

    Chinua Achebe, it was who said that there is really nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else; that the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership – “…the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.”

    A keen and dispassionate observer of the Nigerian environment since May 29 will agree and commend the current Federal Government for the rejuvenated efforts it is making in ensuring a sane operational environment for private sector operators in Nigeria amidst few other flashes of rebirth in public attitudes.

    As the year draws to an end, citizens can beat their chests and say that this year of transition did not pass without an achievement – a change in national political leadership which is yielding gradual results in a steady and sustainable manner.

    The fight against corruption which went comatose has been rejuvenated under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are now alive to their responsibilities in such a manner that a critical observer would question if these agencies of government were really in existence before the inauguration of the Buhari administration.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently sanctioned the multi-national telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria for contravening its directives on SIM Card registration. The CBN has shown new vigilance, given the extraordinary swiftness with which it discovered the violations of Treasury Single Account directive. It also noteworthy that National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) has been up and doing with N1 billion fine on Guinness Nigeria for using expired raw materials in the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

    Under President Buhari’s watch, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has raised the tempo of its activism and regulatory courage, by slamming the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) with an N18 million compensation to the family of eight-year old Faith Yakubu who died when a worker of AEDC disconnected the wire feeding Yakubu’s residence over allegation of accumulated bills.

    There is no doubt that these corporate violations over the years in Nigeria that went unpunished and ignored contributed immensely to the destruction of Nigeria’s economy and the loss of revenue that slowed down governance all over the country.

    The point should not be lost that the activation of the laws and operational codes for business operations in Nigeria by relevant regulatory agencies and their sudden awakening from long term slumber to their mandates and responsibilities have directly and indirectly established a new public order. It has also sent a new message of hope to the world on Nigeria. Effective and efficient monitoring have promoted Nigeria image abroad as a nation of law and order, where rules and regulations are upheld. This is impacting on Foreign Direct Investment and the conduct of business and human interactions in Nigeria. The rest of the world has increased confidence in Nigeria’s economy and its people because the new sheriff in town has reputation for discipline, law and order and zero-tolerance for corruption.

     

    • Ugo Jim-Nwoko,

    Abuja.

  • The Sheriff and the new economy

    SIR: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us” was one of the reverberating quotes of President Muhammadu Buhari that gained traction with the Nigerian people during the electioneering period.

    It’s been three months since the new Sheriff took over and he has begun, slowly but steady to walk the talk on corruption. And the talk which has become subject of contemptuous criticism is that the new Sheriff is killing our economy with his snail-speed.

    I agree that the Sheriff, a man known for his pathological disdain for corruption, is killing Nigeria’s corruption-driven economy for a proper economy to take place.

    Gone are the days when buying and selling of choice apartments and lands were next to oil in terms of demand, even when they were unrealistic, inflated and over priced and I kept asking how many of those buyers, including top civil servants, could afford to pay such exorbitant fees on their legitimate income?

    Such ventures are no longer lucrative as it were during the days of the past permissive prodigal administration – fear of confiscation has made top civil servants to put up theirs for sale.

    Who would buy those over-rated properties they sell for hundreds of millions in choice locations across the country especially now that a reputed and renowned Sheriff is in power and no more free money to spare?

    Those among the day light looters of public funds that have free money to spare are afraid of the uncertainty and have been making efforts to launder theirs in hard currency abroad but many of their surrogates have been caught on our highways, airports and borders, on their way to such missions.

    The Sheriff has ran into chorus of cynics in his commitment to eradicating corruption and like vultures, the political mischief-makers and irreverent critics have been hacking into the carcasses of the Sheriff’s anti-corruption stance in an attempt to denigrate him.

    The Sheriff is unperturbed, his body language alone is giving corruption a bloody nose and a red eye and our once shapeless economy is now taking a nice shape because some of those loop-holes and leakages are that are sabotaging our economy are being blocked by the day.

    The time to cut our clothes according to our sizes is now, that is the only way our corruption-driven economy will give way for a real economy and new opportunities to emerge.

     

    • Joe Onwukeme,

    unjoeratedjoe@gmail.com

     

     

  • The new sheriff in town

    SIR: The arrival of the new Sheriff in town is sending shivers down the spines of the conglomeration of thieves who sucked the nation’s treasury dry and left the nation’s economy in tatters.

    The ruination was as a result of the legacy of profligacy of previous permissive governments and many of those involved in such malfeasance are on their high way to public odium.

    The new Sheriff, Muhammadu Buhari, a reputed anti-corruption crusader has over the years remained resolute in his vision and mission to stamp out corruption. The first time he gave a shot at the seat of power was over 30 years ago through the smoke of a gun powder. Before he could achieve the feat, he was deposed as military head of state, the same way he came in.

    Even out of power, he remained resolute, his untainted integrity and his extra-ordinary insights and accomplishments over the years increased his personality cult and after many attempts at the seat of power as a repentant democrat, his ability to inspire people to key into his vision paid off on March 28. He became the first Nigerian to defeat an incumbent president in our nation’s history.

    Before the 2015 general polls, the Sheriff, President Buhari had urged every Nigerian to give him their mandate. Seeing he was the only one qualified to come cleanse the Augean stables which over the years had been incubated by thieves, majority Nigerians confidently gave him their votes at the polls.

    The Sheriff has resumed and the national thieves – the “Ali babas” who in the past were law unto themselves, have all been clipped of their wings and like a vulture beaten by the rain, they have taken different directions to hibernate pending when their files would be opened.

    In their dormant state, sleep has eluded them, they have been making concessions, some have allegedly surreptitiously returned some of their loot, while others have agreed to return what ever that is left of theirs.

    Even the past “ogas at the top”, who were not too long ago described as the next best thing ever to happen to our democracy have all been abandoned on their lonely road to infamy.

    Investigations are on going and the Sheriff has assured the international community that there won’t be any sacred cow among those who in their bulimic accumulation of unwanted wealth left our nation in ruins – members of the governing party, APC inclusive!

     

    • Joe Onwukeme,

     Enugu

     

     

  • EFCC to arraign Sheriff today over N300b Borno funds

    EFCC to arraign Sheriff today over N300b Borno funds

    A former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff is expected to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today over alleged embezzlement of about N300 billion.

    It was learnt on Tuesday that Sheriff was summoned by the commission and is expected to report at the agency’s Abuja head office to respond to questions bordering on allegations of “misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and abuse of office while he was governor”.

    Multiple sources at the anti-graft agency told this newspaper that should Sheriff fail to show up as directed, he would be declared wanted and then arrested.

    Our sources said detectives were already on his trail and watching his movement to prevent him from fleeing.

    Although the specific allegations against the former governor is unclear at the time of filing this report, this newspaper gathered that the investigation is related with allegations that parts of the N300 billion his administration received from the Federation Account between 2003 and 2011 may not have been judiciously spent.

    The investigation began in 2012 and had been ongoing since, sources said.

    Sheriff was Borno State governor on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

    Before then, he was senator between 1999 and 2003 on the ticket of the same party.

    It remains unclear why Sheriff is being invited by the anti-graft agency at the tail end of an administration formed by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he joined only last year.

    EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached to comment on the matter. He also did not answer or return calls to his mobile phone.

    The spokesman did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

    Sheriff too could not be reached. His mobile telephone was switched off for most of Tuesday and yesterday. Multiple calls to his spokesperson, Inuwa Bwala, failed to connect.

    The former governor, who has since fallen out with his successor, Kashim Shetttima, dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he joined in 2013.

    Before leaving the APC, Sheriff clashed repeatedly with some leaders of the opposition, including former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Sheriff, according to PREMIUM TIMES, had a shouting match with Tinubu at a meeting.

  • Ali Modu Sheriff: End of an era

    Ali Modu Sheriff: End of an era

    It is no longer news that the people of Borno State known for their high level of tolerance,  resilience and fatalism for many centuries, finally humbled Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the self acclaimed ”Lion of the Desert”. They deported him from the political space, just like the American electorate humiliated Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential elections because he overrated himself. This was someone who told President Goodluck Jonathan to hold him responsible if he does not deliver Borno and Yobe states to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Going by the results of the governorship and presidential elections in Borno, it might take him years to recover from this shock.

    In order to understand how Ali Modu Sheriff got this far, it is important to take a historical excursion to put issues in perspective. For those who may not know, Ali is the son of Ngala born millionaire businessman, Modu Sheriff,who is also the Galadiman Dikwa. The senior Sheriff is a lesson in perseverance and hard work, having had a humble beginning as a local perfume seller to become a wealthy businessman of national repute.  By Borno standards, Ali Sheriff comes from a wealthy family that humility should be his middle name. Reason, when the younger sheriff was growing up in affluence, many in Borno could barely afford the basic necessities of life. This is not because his father was more hardworking than others in Borno nor smarter, but, by sheer divine blessing and favours from Allah. Thus, many thought his administration will have a human face.

    Sheriff is that Kanuri politician and defence contractor who scored many firsts in business and politics, being the first son of Dikwa emirate to become governor in Borno. He remains the luckiest politician in Borno history. He was in the senate thrice and two time governor of his state. He defeated the wife of Babagana Kingibe in the Borno Central Senatorial election during the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC) days. He also remains the first governor to win an election without the support of the once powerful Borno elders. His emergence as governor in 2003, through divine providence and the power of the electorate, defeating Late Mala Kachallah, did not surprise many. The late Kachallah, despite being a peace ambassador with a genuine desire to serve his people, surrounded himself with sycophants that he lost touch with the people. By the end May 2003, Kachallah’s major achievements were a peaceful Borno, rehabilitation of all Borno elders and fencing of all government structures. The rest is history.

     Ali Sheriff’s journey to political obscurity actually began May 29, 2003. This is because he started squandering his political capital through poor judgment and belief that no-one was better than him in a state rich in human and material resources. He was allegedly vindictive and crippled the economic base of every Borno businessman or politician that could be a threat to him. He drove fear into the minds of Borno elders that when he sneezes they catch cold.

    Under him, thuggery, sale and consumption of marijuana grew in geometrical proportion that one would think it was close to getting legislative approval. Sheriff also added a new word ”Yirne” to the political dictionary of the state. Yirne is a Kanuri word for ”throw’, which  involves him throwing money from the roof top of his jeep as he drives around the metropolis leading to the death of many children  crushed by vehicles in his convoy or cars coming from opposite direction. Many were opposed to this, but could do nothing.

    By the end of his first term in 2007, he had thrown sand in the eyes of all those on whose back he rode to power.

    While all these may pale into insignificance when he left office in May 2011, his costly mistake of agreeing to the killing of Mohammed Yusuf, founder of Boko Haram in 2009, dealt a big blow to the home of peace. This is evident in the fact that had Yusuf been charged to court, the law may have unveiled the patrons of the sect. This single act of poor judgment proved costly as the sect regrouped and grounded economic, social and political life in Borno and neighboring states for four years, leading to the death of about 13,000 people.

    Boko Haram took the state 50 years backwards. The sect also killed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s younger brother, Goni Sheriff, cousin, Fannami Gubio, in-law, Awana Ngala and confidant, Mustapha Flawama. Sheriff could have used his closeness to Aso Rock to bring succour to his people. As a defence contractor, he could conveniently pay for the military hardware needed to crush Boko Haram. He did not.

    Governor Kashim Shettima, as a result, spent all his four years on paying compensation to victims of Boko Haram, burying the dead, paying hospital bills of the injured, supporting the welfare of soldiers on and off the front line, and enduring all sorts of insult from Abuja instead of building on what Sheriff left behind.

    Also, the insurgency was a great opportunity for Sheriff to erase his ‘sins’ by being on the side of his people, but he bungled it forever.

    Change they say is the only permanent thing in life. Today, Borno is gradually getting its groove back, thanks to the wind of political change blowing across the nation. Sheriff on the other hand is now a political orphan knocked out of the political ring by the same people he made life miserable for. Too bad, when next he is visiting Borno, he will have his heart in his mouth because there will be no battalion of soldiers to escort him to his house, neither will there be a police commissioner willing to put his job on the line by getting his men to provide security for the humbled ”Lion of the Desert”.

     The political tragedy of Ali Sheriff underscores the following: power is transient, one is not deemed to be successful until one is able to manage success, money is not everything and one should always pray that emotions will not becloud one’s sense of judgment. He has lost both ”the crown and the throne” like the Hausa proverb ”Ba tarko, Ba tsuntsu” and has to face the reality of being ”homeless politically.” The Shettimas, Ndumes and Zannahs he vowed to destroy are now having the last laugh. Today’s decisions are tomorrow’s realities.

    -Lawal, a public commentator wrote in from Boston in the United States. He can be reached on rafla2002pl@yahoo.com

  • 2015: Tension in Borno as Shettima, Sheriff resume rivalries

    2015: Tension in Borno as Shettima, Sheriff resume rivalries

    Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, reports that the resumed rivalries between Governor Kashim Shettima and his erstwhile godfather, Senator Modu Sherrif, has raised the political temperature of Borno State ahead this year’s elections

    THE bullets are still raining and the bombs are still exploding in many parts of the state. Killings, abductions and other forms of violence are yet to abate in many local government areas, including Maiduguri, the state capital. Soldiers are daily combing the nooks and crannies of the metropolis for fleeing militants or wounded ones. Obviously, peace is yet to return to the state that ironically enjoy the sobriquet “Home of Peace”.

    But in spite of the confusion that currently reigns supreme in Bornu State, its people are eager to participate in the rescheduled 2015 general election. In fact, the approaching elections, according to some observers of the politics of the troubled state, may have added to the frenzy being witnessed in the towns and villages of Borno.

    “The people of Bornu are undeterred by the activities of Boko Haram militants in their determination to exercise their rights at the polls. Rather, they are strengthened by recent happenings to want to vote for their preferred candidates and parties. The political scenario in Bornu today is such that the people have become the final arbiter and it is only with their votes they can do this.

    With Governor Kashim Shettima and his erstwhile godfather, Senator Modu Sherrif, again at loggerheads, it has become very important for the people to decide who their leader is. Everybody in Bornu is interested in voting and this is because the two political warring sides have more than ever before, taken their cases to the people,” Hassan Gubio, former Vice Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state, said.

    Following the renewal of hostilities by the governor and his predecessor, Sheriff after the later decamped to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) late last year, the political class in the state have been strongly divided along the lines of those angling desperately to get Shettima out of Government House and those working hard to get him a second term of four years in office in the 2015 general elections.

    Consequently, especially given the fact that both Shettima and Sherrif are old political warhorses in the state, Borno has become a theatre of several acts of political violence and intolerance, with both camps accusing the other of perpetrating the devious acts.

    Before the duo met in the All Progressives Congress upon its formation last year, Shettima and Sheriff have been at loggerheads over the political control of the state. Although it was Sheriff who handpicked the governor to succeed him at the expiration of his second term in 2011, allegations and counter allegations of disloyalty and undue interference soon tore them apart.

    “While the people will tell you that the two fell apart because Sheriff wanted to dictate for the governor on matters of governance, the Senator’s supporters will accuse Shetimma of being disloyal to the man who made him governor.

    Whatever the two sides may say, it is obvious that power tussle and ego are responsible for the crises between the two political heavyweights. Sheriff’s records are hard to break in Borno but the governor too is no push-over. Claims that it will be easy for Sheriff to push Shettima out of Government House the way he shoved Kachallah out in 2003 may not be true because the times have changed and Shettima is adjudged to have performed well as governor in his first term.

    “Shettima, has been building infrastructure, improving human capacity and rekindling people’s hope in spite of the bombs and bullets. To this end, the governor is still the man of the people in spite of Sheriff’s popularity. While getting him re-elected is now more difficult with Sheriff on the other side, it is wrong to say it would be easy to defeat him either,” Gubio said.

    As the election approaches, cases of clashes between the two camps are on the rise to further heighten the sense of insecurity in the besieged state. Recently, the two camps bickered over an attack on the convoy of the state governor while on a working visit in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    According to the state APC Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, the thugs allegedly attacked the convoy of Governor Shettima, smashing about 10 vehicles in the process. According to the APC boss, the attack “seemed carefully planned with the apparent endorsement of Sheriff”.

    “The thugs came out from a campaign office belonging to Sheriff called UTC and soon after the governor’s official vehicle had passed, the thugs went after the vehicles in the convoy, smashing windscreens.

    “After he was informed, Shettima ordered his security details to restrain their men from using fire arms or any form of assault in order not to heighten tension in the state and compromise counter-insurgency operations.

    “From all indication, these youths were sent by SAS. We know some of them, they are his boys. He created thuggery in Borno State when he was a governor. This administration is creating jobs and building human capacity to discourage thuggery, but SAS wants to take us to the era of thuggery,” Dalori said.

    But the ex-governor in his response to the allegation, said it was unfortunate that the APC-led government linked him to the attack. His spokesman, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, said neither he nor Mr. Sheriff was in Maiduguri when the alleged attack took place and enjoined security agencies to brace up to their responsibilities, stressing that “whatever happened to Shettima is a balance of terror”.

    According to Bwala, “What is happening in Borno State is a reaction to balance of terror. I urge the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities to ensure that the governor and his people are called to order”.

    He, however, gave an insight into the probable cause for the attack on Gov. Shettima’s convoy. “We believe those who attacked Governor Shettima were the APC thugs that were denied payment of their contract agreement to destroy and burn down PDP offices in the state during General Mohammed Buhari’s last visit.

    Reconciled

    Although the governor and his predecessor continued their political warfare for a while when they met in the APC as they battled over who takes charge of the party in the state, many people thought the end may have come to the bickering between them after Sheriff was received by a crowd of supporters in Maiduguri last year.

    It was learnt that the two men had met in Lagos where top APC leaders and governors intervened in the dispute until it was resolved. Sheriff flew into Maiduguri in his private jet and was received by a crowd of supporters including National Assembly members, state lawmakers, serving commissioners and former political appointees who served during his eight years rule as the Borno State governor.

    An apparently elated Borno deputy governor, Zannah Mustapha, later told journalists that “There was never any disagreement between the former governor and my boss, His Excellency Governor Kashim Shettima. It was all the creation of mischievous politicians who sold it to the media where it was scandalised.”

    He, however, praised God for the reconciliation over a fight that never was. “To God be the glory, all is now over about the so-called fight between my boss, Governor Shettima, and former governor Ali Sheriff. Both His Excellency Kashim Shettima and our former governor, Sheriff, had met and reconciled whatever differences they may have had; and have also agreed to work together more than ever before to advance the cause of APC,” Mr. Mustapha said.

    The two politicians led the APC in the party for a while until the national convention of the party allegedly pitched them against one another. While Shettima joined majority of the party’s leaders to support the emergence of John Odigie Oyegun as national chairman, Sheriff and some others wanted someone else.

    The election held and Oyegun won. Sheriff and his cohorts cried foul and vowed to leave the party on account of Oyegun’s victory. While this was happening, the political permutations in Bornu were fast changing with political crises rearing their heads here and there amongst supporters of the two leaders.

    Trouble again

    But on July 14, 2014, Senator Sheriff was in Maiduguri to signal the return of hostilities when he publicly said he was dumping his party, APC and moving to the PDP. As reasons for his action, he mentioned bad leadership, misappropriation of public funds, selfish interest and above all, segregation that allegedly characterised the government of Governor Shettima. The Senator and his team were received by a mammoth crowd, including members of the PDP and APC supporters as well as some of his loyalists.

    He was in town in company of some House of Representative members, including Honourables Abdurrahaman Terab, Isa Lawan Kangar and Peter Biye Gumtha, representing Bama/Ngala- Kalabalge, Guzamala/Kukawa and Damboa/ Gwoza/Chibok federal constituencies respectively.

    “Borno is my place; I came to consult with my people over my plan to defect from the APC, a political party that has no foundation. After the Ramadan I am going to formally decamp into the PDP fold, we are going to tour all the 27 local councils of the state, it is from there that I will use the opportunity to apologise to the people over the predicament they are facing under this government.

    “Shettima was a commissioner during my tenure, I was the one that held his hand and sought the mandate of Borno people to elect him as governor with the hope that he will carry everybody along. Unfortunately, I made a wrong choice, as majority of the people and the electorate have been pushed to the dust bin, with only few, including Shettima’s associates, friends and family, eating fat on this government.

    This is not democracy and insha Allah, this dictatorial government is parking out after 2015 general elections, so as to pave way for a collective government,” Sheriff said.

    Signaling its readiness for the battle ahead, the APC leadership in the state, in a swift reaction, said it will not miss Sheriff and his co-travellers. According to the party, their exit is good riddance to bad rubbish at most.

    “No political party will hand over the entire aspirations of its loyal members to a new comer unless the party is looking for massive anti party activities. We will prefer to have a united APC in Borno but to be honest with you the APC in Borno State is not under any threat at all, we have the masses, we are very, very strong and are only waiting for inauguration of our candidates in May and June, 2015 that is for the governorship, deputy and for the National and State Assembly seats,” the party said to bid Sheriff farewell.

    But with his exit returned the stiff political rivalry between him and the governor. And although analysts say it may not be easy for the ex-governor to have his way this time, observers of the politics of the state are of the opinion that the forthcoming political contests between the two camps promises to be really tense

  • APC accuses ex-Governor Sheriff’s thugs of attacking Shettima’s convoy

    APC accuses ex-Governor Sheriff’s thugs of attacking Shettima’s convoy

    •PDP: it’s unfortunate we were linked to the attack 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State has alleged that the thugs loyal to former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday attacked the convoy of Governor Kashim Shettima while on a working visit in Maiduguri.

    According to the APC Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, the thugs allegedly attacked the convoy of Governor Shettima, smashing about 10 vehicles.

    Dalori in a statement made available by the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Shettima, Isa Gusau, said the attack “seemed carefully planned with the apparent endorsement of Sheriff”, adding that the thugs allegedly attacked Shettima about 4:30pm in Maiduguri along Sir Kashim Ibrahim Way, while on a working visit in hospitals in the metropolis with his aides.

    The statement reads: “The thugs came out from a campaign office belonging to Sheriff called UTC and soon after the governor’s official vehicle had passed, the thugs went after the vehicles in the convoy, smashing windscreens.

    “After he was informed, Shettima ordered his security details to restrain their men from using fire arms or any form of assault in order not to heighten tension in the state and compromise counter-insurgency operations.

    “From all indication, these youths were sent by SAS. We know some of them, they are his boys. He created thuggery in Borno State when he was a governor. This administration is creating jobs and building human capacity to discourage thuggery, but SAS wants to take us to the era of thuggery.

    “About 4:30pm today, 10 vehicles in the governor’s convoy were smashed by PDP thugs loyal to Sheriff. Governor Shettima quickly stopped his security details from any assault defence and also stopped APC youths from reprisal because he has always worked for peace.

    “We live in Maiduguri, we are the people that stand to lose if peace is truncated. SAS lives in Abuja with houses all over the world. So he will not care if Maiduguri goes up in flames. All the violence he is orchestrating is aimed at stopping elections in Borno State, but God will never allow evil to succeed over good.

    “We are telling him to  call his thugs to order because the Borno State government under the APC will not allow anyone to perpetrate violence in the state after our efforts to fight Boko Haram and restore peace in Maiduguri. We won’t allow him to succeed. We will take every lawful step available to us.

    “Whether he likes it or not, his era has passed in Borno State, nothing can change that history insha Allah. We urge the Federal Government to call SAS to order. If he is above the law, the Federal Government should tell us, but we will not be lawless and we will not allow him have his way.”

    But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was unfortunate that the APC-led government linked it to the attack.

    Spokesman for ex-Governor Sheriff, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, enjoined security agencies to brace up to their responsibilities, saying that “whatever happened to Shettima is a balance of terror”.

    Bwala, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, said: “I find it difficult to react to what happened in Maiduguri when I am in Abuja.

    “What is happening in Borno State is a reaction to balance of terror. I urge the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities to ensure that the governor and his people are called to order.”