Alhaji Umaru Duhu, Adamawa state chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, has risen in defense of former Borno state Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, since the former was alleged to have links with the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram. He spoke on the origin of the sect, and absolves his party man in this encounter with a group of journalists in Abuja. Excerpts:
The BOT chairman of your party, the ANPP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was alleged to be the master mind of Boko Haram. He has not personally made a public statement on that. Can you give us an insight into his thoughts?
It is rather unfortunate that the name of our respected party leader is being peddled as having links with the Boko Haram sect, even when it is common knowledge that he is the group’s number one target. The allegation is not a new thing. Some others have made futile attempts in the past to insinuate same.
Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has not deemed it necessary to join issues with the embattled senator Ahmed Zannah, who has been ranting in the past few weeks, because he knows that, the man is only playing the ostrich. In the fullness of time, the truth about the whole matter will be known.
The JTF which arrested the suspected king pin are in a better position to tell the world in whose house they made the arrest. I agree with you that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has been on a virtual trial by the media over the issue of Boko Haram. I also agree that some people are bent on rubbishing his integrity, using the Boko Haram issue.
I think it is rather unfortunate that people find it convenient to trivialize a very serious security challenge like Boko Haram by playing politics with it. Some are pointing accusing fingers at others instead of defending their culpability, any time our security operatives come near bursting the case.
The Federal Government is not sleeping over the matter, and they have at their disposal very vital information