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Boko
Haram:Anxiety over
alleged plot to
nail ex Gov Sheriff
Citizen Reporter
Thur July 14,2011
The masses in Maiduguri are
coping with the insecurity
,a crisis that has forced
many to vote with their feet
to safety .Just as the combat between
the Boko Haram insurgents and the soldier worsened,elders
of the state called for the withdrawal of soldiers to save the
people from the agony of the ‘guerrilla
warfare’ in the
city.Even Boko Haram has called for the withdrawal of soldiers
as a condition for
dialogue of any sort.
But behind the scenes there is yet another
silent but growing
anxiety resulting from the
Boko Haram saga:This reporter
learnt there are
fears that some influential powers are seeking to nail ex
Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno
State.The immediate past governor has in the last couple
of days been in the eye of the storm with people boldly alleging
that Boko Haram was his
creation aimed originally to
serve his political interest while serving as
governor.In a chat with
State House Correspondents yesterday after visiting
the Aso Rock Presidential Villa In Abuja, Sheriff
categorically denied this claim that he masterminded Boko Haram
as being untrue.
But there is a much deeper cause for worry; it was learnt that
the battle over Boko Haram is being used as an
opportunity to settle scores.In particular,it has emerged that
a highly placed
northerner in the Presidential villa is believed to be ‘in th
vanguard ` anti-Sheriff moves as part of
a plot to nail the ex
governor.It was further learnt that powerful Abuja forces
are working with
influential indigenes
of Borno state to deal with Ali Modu Sheriff over Boko
Haram especially after
having failed to use the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices
Commission,ICPC against him.
“We believe this forces are behind the widespread negative
publicity being given to allegations against Sheriff .All these
may be just attempts to test the waters so that
they can use him as the
scape goat over the Boko Haram issue.That is
our suspicion’’ said an
insider .
One of those monitoring the anti Sheriff
said such schemes
against the ex governor may
be behind the reports that he was quizzed by the SSS recently.
“We know that is not true.Sheriff
is an acquaintance of DG
SSS .And the ex
governor had visited some prominent figures in government
earlier .So, he merely visited the DG SSS.He went there, they
exchanged pleasantries; took coffee and discussed generally.
Shockingly as he left someone sent words to reporters
that Sheriff had been questioned for
about 7 hours and they
went ahead to opinionate the affair with a shocking slant that
Boko Haram had been used for political purpose.But that is not
true ’’,the insider said.
The massive offensive against Sheriff
has compelled his men to dig into the past for the root
cause of the Boko
Haram insurgency.One of them revealed recently that
in fact what is now known as Boko Haram is like a
metamorphosis of all shades of Islamic fundamentalist groups
over the years .Going down memory lane, one of the aides
to ssaid there was the
Maitatsine of the 1980s,the Talibans of Kannnam in Yobe state
,there was the
Bulunkutu sect much
earlier also in
Maiduguri, and in Yola it was Kalakato,just like in Gombe where
they were known as Kalakato.
“But whatever they are called, it is the same group with
the same fiery approach to Islamic preaching and mannerism
towards western education.So Boko Haram could not have been
a recent formation.They have always been with us but
assumed more
sophistication and dimension now.’’
It is in the light of these facts that pro Sheriff forces
believe there is either ignorance, political mischief or sheer
blackmail intended in the claim that
Boko Haram was created
to enhance Sheriff’s political power. “Those who allege that
Boko Haram is the
creation of a particular person are either ignorant of the
history of religious fundamentalism in Nigeria or are
being mischievious” one of sheriff’s ardent loyalists
revealed to this reporter.
There is also the suspicion that an unfolding battle for the
control of Borno state is a subplot to the ongoing
war. “We believe some people even from the PDP are
determined
undermine Sheriff.In fact ,we feel now that some of those who
decamped from the PDP into the ANPP are moles just determined to
subvert the party..’’ said an ANPP sympathizer.So it is apparent
that the crisis in Borno has indeed its religious as well as
political dimensions and
perhaps even more.
While the intrigues unfold however, the people of Borno are
groaning under the double
jeopardy of
Boko Haram insurgency and the alleged ruthlessness
of the soldiers
fighting the insurgents.No one can predict when peace
will return to Maiduguri.
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