Presidency Distances Self From Modu Sheriff, Says Investigations On Alleged Boko Haram Sponsors Ongoing

Nigerian Presidency has distanced itself from the former Borno state governor, Ali Modu Sheriff over his seeming clinging to President Goodluck Jonathan in Chad, saying that security people would be allowed to continue with their investigations into those that were named as allegedly sponsors of Boko Haram.
An Australian, Dr. Stephen Davis had, a couple of weeks ago, named Ali Modu Sheriff as one of those whom Boko Haram leaders told him have been sponsoring their deadly activities in many parts of the Northern Nigeria.
Special Adviser to President Jonathan on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati told newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today that Senator Sheriff’s name was not on the list of the entourage in the President journey to Chad.
He said that the claim by the National Publicity Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Lai Mohammed that Modu Sheriff accompanied President Jonathan on his trip to Ndjamena was spurious.
“In keeping with President Jonathan’s commitment to transparency and openness in the conduct of government business, names of the key members of his delegation were announced a day before his trip to Ndjamena.
“They included the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and the Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed.
“As can be easily verified from the complete list of members of the Presidential entourage to Chad which was also circulated on Sunday and never changed,
“The only other persons on the list were the President’s aides, security personnel and journalists.”
Dr. Abati said that those who associate with Senator Sheriff know that he has longstanding interests in Chad and often spends a lot of his time there.
He said that Ali Modu Sheriff happened to be in Ndjamena at the time of President Jonathan’s visit and joined other Nigerian residents of the Chadian capital in coming to the airport to welcome their President.
“That was the full extent of his participation in the visit and it was also at Ndjamena Airport that the pictures which formed the basis of the bogus allegation of President Jonathan hobnobbing with an “accused sponsor of terrorism” were taken.
“The former Governor’s presence in Chad was certainly not at President Jonathan’s instance and he did not participate in any of the President’s discussions with President Idriss Deby or his other engagements in Ndjamena.
“President Jonathan is fully aware of the allegation made against Senator Sheriff by Stephen Davis. That allegation is already being investigated by the security agencies who will make their findings known to the public in due course.
“The President assures all Nigerians that he has not willfully taken any action that could prejudice the outcome of that ongoing inquiry.
“He seizes this opportunity to reassure the nation once again of his total commitment to doing all within his powers to bring all identified and verified sponsors of terrorism to justice, and ending the menace of violent extremism in the country.”
The President’s spokesman expressed surpriss at what he called, the unnecessary hue and cry raised by the APC “and other bigoted critics of the Jonathan Administration over the claim that the President is “hobnobbing” with the former governor Ali Modu Sheriff. [myad]