Contrary to earlier reports, former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said that he left the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, APC,  for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in other to resolve the numerous problems affecting his state.

Sheriff made this statement on Tuesday, 16 September, 2014, while paying a condolence visit on Alhaji Kashim Shettima and the internally displaced persons in Borno State, according to reports.

The former governor also spoke on the allegation made by the Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Steven Davies, that he was one of the sponsors of the Islamist group Boko Haram, saying the allegation was hatched by his detractors in Maiduguri, Borno state capital.

Sheriff stated that it was a great disservice to link him with the Boko Haram insurgents, insisting that: “If I was a Boko Haram sponsor, there would not have been any government in the state for anyone to inherit.

“The allegation by the Australian was hatched in Maiduguri to smear my name by those who are not comfortable with my political goodwill.”

He however advised that: “We should be careful how we treat issues because some of these things could later backfire.”

While speaking further on Davies’ allegation, Sheriff lamented that: “It is sad to hear that the state owned television was for about four days broadcasting the allegation of the Australian negotiator against me, but the people of the state know who I am and what I have done and what I can do.”

“I have suffered a lot in their (Boko Haram) hands, they killed my brother just an hour after he was with me. They killed the governorship candidate of my party, a candidate that I supported. There is no body in the state that has not suffered from the insurgents.”

Commenting on why he left the APC for the PDP, he said it was in the interest of the people of Borno State he joined the government at the centre.

“My being in the PDP is a personal sacrifice for my people. I am in PDP so as to make the necessary intervention for my people.

“There is no sacrifice too much for me to make for the people of the state because they have done so much for me,” Sheriff said.

The former governor stressed: “It is sad that they have been saying I do not care for the state. I have always cared for the state because I take it that I am the most patronised person in state having been voted three times into the senate and twice as governor.

“I have been doing so many things behind the scene for the state, I do not need to come to the media to state what I have done.”

Sheriff, who was governor of the state from 2003 to 2011, said: “If it takes me to be sleeping 24 hours in the presidency for my people, I will do just that.”

While reacting to Sheriff’s statement, the Borno State Government accused the former governor of  politicising the allegations leveled against him and finding an escape route.

According to a statement released by the Secretary to Borno State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda,  the state government denied allegations that it was backing Boko Haram.

“The Borno State Government has nothing to do with Steven Davis, unless if Sheriff had dealings with him or others when he was governor, that we don’t know, but under Kashim Shettima, we have no controversies of such and he shouldn’t drag this innocent, transparent and hardworking administration into controversies, we have enough issues to worry about. Our concern is how to end the crisis and not to cause confusion,” the statement read in parts.

Modu Sheriff Reveals Why He Joined PDP