Former Governor of Borno State, Senator (Dr,) Ali Modu Sheriff, is a politician with intimidating political profile. He was elected three times as Senator representing Borno Central at the upper chamber of the National Assembly. He was equally elected twice as Governor of Borno state and fathered many politicians. Senator Ali Sheriff is currently running his businesses in the Oil and Gas sector as well as Aviation and has been in the news over the Boko Haram menace that has taken over the Northeast. In this interview with DAILY POST, the former governor spoke on his recent home coming to Maiduguri, why he is now in PDP and his dreams for Borno state. Our correspondent, MAINA MAINA sent excerpt:
Maiduguri, the Borno state capital practically stood still on Sunday, when you arrived the town. This has also questioned an initial rumour that you have left
PDP . Now that you have proved your critics wrong again, may we know your mission on why you are back in Maiduguri?
Thank you very much. I am indeed happy that each time they try to fool the people of Borno state, God in his mercies always bring shame on them by proving them wrong. Well, I am here this time around in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state to tell my people that I have formally dumped the All Progressive Congress, APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I pity those pedaling lies about me. My people must have heard a lot of stories, but they did not hear it officially from me. I am also here to encourage them to go and register with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This is where we have pitched our tent, in other to be in conformity with the central government for the benefit of our people. Basically, this is my mission to Maiduguri.
Well, Sir, you have been a consistent politician. I mean you have identified with one political party since time immemorial; you have always been in the, perhaps because historically, Borno state has always been an opposition state; what informed this sudden shift?
You are very correct. I am a consistent politician and I remained with one political party all through my political journey till now. I was a founding member of the NRC and I remain with the party despite that fact that we lost election at that time. I was a member of the APP. In fact, we brought the party to the state and we formed the government. From APP we metamorphosed to ANPP. All the parties we formed were based on principles of democratic representation and good governance. The need came when we had to take certain decisions, as a political party, we agreed to go into merger with the idea to make us strong and position ourselves as formidable opposition in the country. Thus, we formed what is now known as the All Progressive Congress, APC, but unfortunately, the party did not go far when it was hit by greed and selfishness as against our principles. We were thinking about fairness, equity and justice, but all these were not found in APC, as such, we had to take a decision, which informed our thinking to take our state to conform with the central government.
I am not into politics today for myself. I am into politics today for my people and for the benefit of the people I represent, that is, the people of Borno state. Today, you and I know that if there is one state that had suffered a lot in terms of insurgency, it’s Borno state. You and I know very well that all the security agencies under our constitution belong to the central government, which President Goodluck Jonathan is the Commander in Chief. As a politician, the President coming through a political party, which formed government at the centre owes his party and the states which formed government under his party. The President has his people, who would tell him what should be done to their states; they always would have his attention because they belong to the same clime. Whether what they would tell him is right or wrong, he must hear them. Now, Borno state people are suffering, and I know that, certain things are achievable only when you belong to the central government, and if it would take me to join the mainstream political party in order to go and fight for my people, I think my decision to join the PDP has been justified. In any case, Borno state is losing each time we are in opposition. Every time we are in the opposition, we do not benefit in terms of dividends of democracy like states under the PDP. This is because it is natural that the central government would have to satisfy those states that voted them in. If we are not going to assists the central government to form a government, then, they are not duty bound to bring the dividends of democracy to us. Of course, to provide security to protect lives and property is their responsibility, but we would be in a better position to get their attention if we are part of the central government. I can say that the totality of my reason for joining the PDP is to bridge that gap between the people of Borno state and the central government.
