Why Ali-Modu Sheriff Is In The News Again

Ex-governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, is in the news not for tussling the chairmanship seat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) this time, but for allegedly acting as a mole planted by the opposition party in the ruling All Progressive Congress APC.

Sheriff is being accused by his ex-spokesperson, Inuwa Bwala, of being a mole planted by the main opposition party, PDP, in order to jeopardize the ruling Congress’s chances ahead of the 2019 Presidential election.

Bwala who was also a former commissioner of information of Borno State, alleged his former boss “donated” a campaign venue for Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki’s presidential consultation in Maiduguri, Borno State on Saturday.

Saraki over the weekend visited the North Eastern state where he used an event centre called “Foreshams hall” to address party delegates in a bid to woo them in his interest, ahead of the PDP presidential primary scheduled for October 6th.

The event centre is said to belong to Sheriff’s wife, Halti Ali Modu Sheriff.

“It is public knowledge that foreshams hall belongs to Sheriff’s wife. The hall was built while Sheriff was Governor of Borno State under the ANPP.

“The hall was not accessible for PDP events throughout Sheriff’s reign as governor. However, sources close to the management said the hall was given to Saraki and (ex-vice president) Atiku for free as Sheriff waived the fee,” Bwala told PREMIUM TIMES.

Sheriff who was re-elected governor of Borno State in 2007 under the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), switched his affiliation to the PDP in 2014. In 16 February 2016, he became the chairman of PDP National Working Committee (acting), but was removed later in the year in the 2016 National Convention of the PDP.

Sheriff became a fractional National chairman of the PDP, and defected to the ruling APC months after he was removed from office following the verdict from the Supreme Court which authenticated Ahmed Makarfi as Caretaker Chairman.

“President Buhari needs to be careful with Sheriff. It is very possible that he is in APC to actually work for the PDP.

“We all know that President Buhari and Sheriff have nothing in common. There is no way Sheriff will sincerely work for Buhari.

“Those of us who worked closely with Sheriff know this. The president can assign the security (SSS) to find out who owns Foreshams and to establish whether both Saraki and Atiku didn’t hold their campaigns for free at that venue.

“Why is he even giving them venue? Whoever knows Sheriff can bear testimony that unless there is something fishy, it is impossible for politicians in another party and not his, to use Foreshams hall that is owned by his wife”

Recall also that both Saraki and Atiku recently left the APC and returned to the PDP where they hope to pick the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2019 election.