Former Governor of Borno State, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff on Thursday said he owed the Department of State Services (DSS) gratitude for coming out with facts exonerating him of sponsoring the Boko Haram insurgents.
Sheriff’s statement came on the heels of the arrest of six persons by the DSS, including a former special assistant to Borno State governor Kashim Shettima, who confessed to being the one that cooked up stories indicting a former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.) and the ex-governor as sponsors of terrorism, as announced by the Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Steven Davis.
“Nigerians, by now, should have been convinced about my innocence on the lies being told against my person as a major sponsor of Boko Haram, but by God’s will, no amount of attacks would deter me from taking Borno State to the right path of politics and development”, he said.
The ex-governor said he was consoled that the federal government, through the, DSS, was able to conclusively unravel the truth behind his alleged involvement in terrorism.
“Do I need to stress to you that the government has vindicated me as the outcome of investigations have more clearly revealed the source of the blackmail against me. Those behind the plots to smear my name are more on the spot now, going by what has happened.
“I have always said that attempts to give me a bad name will always fail. I stand by the truth and I will not relent in pursuing the truth. Let them continue to toe the line of evil against me, but rest assured that those involved would soon burn their fingers”.
The former governor further praised the DSS for its relentless quest to unravel the mysteries behind Boko Haram, and urged Nigerians to always accord the government and security agencies the necessary cooperation they need to win the war against terrorism in the country.
Sheriff, who made these remarks in an interview with journalists yesterday, said his efforts to ensure victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State was the reason he has been constantly under attack with desperation by those he described as “political foes” to link him with insurgency in the state.
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