Ex
senator and former Borno state governor Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday
September 3 denied any link with the dreaded boko haram sect as alleged
by the Australian negotiator Stephen Davies. Well Human Rights lawyer
Femi Falana insists that the governor has a question to answer. Below is
his argument as contained in a statement he released today September 4:
“Yesterday,
a former governor of Borno state, Mr. Modu Ali Sheriff, addressed a
press conference at Abuja where he attempted to play on the collective
intelligence of Nigerians by denying any link with the dreaded Boko
Haram sect. He was apparently reacting to his indictment by Rev .Stephen
Davies, the international negotiator engaged by the federal government
to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect with a view to to securing the
release of the abducted Chibok girls.
In
his press conference Mr. Sheriff claimed that he only met the late
Mohammed Yussuf, the leader of the Boko Haram sect after he had been
arrested by the army in 2009. As the Chief Security Officer in Borno
State at the material time the ex-governor should throw some light on
the bizzaire circumstances surrounding of the extra judicial killing of
Muhammed Yusuff and his father-in-law, Alhaji Baba Fugu Mohammed. In a
judgment delivered on April 13, 2010 the Borno State High Court ordered
the Federal and the Borno State governments to pay N100 million damages
for the illegal killing of Alhaji Baba Fugu Mohammed and exhume the
corpse and release him to the family for a decent burial.
More
importantly, Mr. Sheriff should explain to Nigerians the basis of the
appointment of Alhaji Buji Foi, a boko haram leader as the Commissioner
for Religious Affairs by his government. Alhaji Foi was made a cabinet
member as a compensation to the boko haram sect for supporting the
governor’s re-election in 2003. He later resigned from the Sheriff
government. He too was extra-judicially killed after his arrest by the
soldiers.
Before
the revelation of Rev. Davies the Goodluck Jonathan Administration had
set up the Ambassador Usman Galtimari Panel to investigate the genesis
of the insurgency in the North East region. After a detailed
investigation the Presidential Panel found inter alia:
“Findings
The
Report traced the origin of private militias in Borno State in
particular, of which Boko Haram is an offshoot, to politicians who set
them up in the run-up to the 2003 general elections. The militias were
allegedly armed and used extensively as political thugs. After the
elections and having achieved their primary purpose, the politicians
left the militias to their fate since they could not continue funding
and keeping them employed. With no visible means of sustenance, some of
the militias gravitated towards religious extremism, the type offered by
Mohammed Yusuf.
Recommendation
It
recommended that the Federal Government should direct the security
agencies to beam their light on some politicians who sponsored, funded
and used the militia groups that later metamorphosed into Boko Haram and
bring them to justice.
Comment
Government
accepts this recommendation and directs the National Security Adviser
to coordinate the investigation of the kingpins and sponsors to unravel
the individuals and groups that are involved.”
Furthermore,
the ECOMOG militia group set up and funded by Governor Sheriff along
with similar bodies were said to have constituted the roots of terrorism
in the North East region. According to the Presidential Panel:
Findings
(a)
It was reported that members of the sect have transformed themselves
into dreaded criminal groups recently and were now known by various
pious sounding Islamic names.
The
groups, which had hitherto employed the use of crude and locally made
arms with few automatic weapons, are now linked to highly sophisticated
weaponry and explosives imported or smuggled into the country. Equally,
their modus operandi had drastically changed from mere confrontation
with security agents to modern day terrorism with a high precision rate.
(b)
Politicians in the country have employed the services of thugs and
other groups and associations with large youth membership to intimidate
their political opponents during electioneering activities. The roots of
terrorism, especially in Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Bauchi States, could be
traced to groups or associations such as ‘ECOMOG’, ‘Yan Kalare’ and
‘Sara Suka’ which have links to prominent politicians in these States.
However, similar to the militant groups in the Niger Delta area, the
groups usually grow out of control and become a threat to the
politicians that supported and financed them
Recommendation
States
where sect members thrive should exercise the necessary political will
to deal with this problem, notwithstanding the perceived implications to
their sponsors.
Comment
Government
accepts this recommendation and directs the Security Agents to work
with the State Government to deal with this matter.”
Owing
to the connection of Alhaji Sheriff and other sponsors of the boko
haram sect with the Presidency the security agencies have failed to
implement the directives of the Federal Government which were handed
down since May 2012. Rev. Davies’ revelations have merely confirmed the
findings of Galtimari Presidential Panel. The purported denial of Alhaji
Sheriff’s links with the boko haram sect should not be taken seriously
by Nigerians.
It
would be recalled that Governor Sheriff had told the whole world in a
press conference sometime in 2006, that he was not bothered by
criticisms of his administration for non-performance because less than 5
percent of the people of Borno State were literate. It has since been
confirmed that majority of the youths who “gravitated towards religious
extremism” come from the over a million children who were denied basic
education by the Borno State government under Governor Sheriff.
In
the light of the foregoing, the security forces should, without any
further delay carry out the directives of the Federal Government by
investigating and prosecuting all the indicted sponsors of the boko
haram sect. If the directives are not carried out forthwith I shall
apply to the Federal High Court for a Writ of MANDAMUS to compel the
security agencies to discharge their duties in the public interest.
FEMI FALANA, SAN”
Need Prayer?) Call: Olaatunbi On 08179675091, 08067367028 The Apostolic Church Of Christ(Higher Ground Parish): Address:12 Celestial Church Street,Off Igbokoda-Okitipupa General Hospital Road, Okitipupa, Ondo.
For Your Advert Placement, Music Promotion And Information Contact: Mr Oluwaseun at nairayouth@gmail.com 08175479919 or 09039648668.
ADD US ON BBM ON 2BB4ED95
Post a Comment