LEAD

I’m joining PDP in Nigeria’s interest - SheriffI’m joining PDP in Nigeria’s interest - Sheriff

A former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Friday said his decision to dump the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party was taken in the interest of the country. He said having been elected as state governor twice and a senator three times, his interest now should be on how to move the nation forward. Sheriff spoke with State House correspondents shortly after holding a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He however claimed he did not discuss issues relating to the PDP with the President, saying their discussion was purely on personal ground. He said, “Nigeria is a very interesting country and people like us who the nation has done everything for, both as individuals or collectively, need to pay back. “By the grace of God, in Borno State, I have been made governor twice which is the maximum any one can get in terms of the limits imposed by the Constitution. I was elected into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria thrice. “This means that in every aspect of life, I am one of the stakeholders in Nigeria because if by the help of God, the people of Nigeria had placed me in that position at every time, my interest now should be on how to move the nation forward. “Our interest should be on what makes the nation move forward. My decisions will be guided by the interest of the nation first. My thinking of moving to the PDP is also in the interest of the nation. “We believe that every time, as a leader who lead people, you should advise them on the right course of action.” The former governor said the violence by the Boko Haram sect was a serious concern to everybody and all Nigerians must be ready to contribute to solving the problem. He said although he is not a security personnel, he would use his experience as a former governor of the state to contribute to ending the insurgency in the state. He said, “I am not a security man or personnel. Whatever that as civilian I can do using my position as the chief executive of the state for eight years, what I have seen during my tenure I will contribute to the security agencies through whom I got those information. “What you have to understand is that this country is a big country and Borno State is a different state from any other state in Nigeria. “Borno has the biggest land mass bordering Niger, Chad and Cameron. It is an open border. Borno is not like the Republic of Benin with only one entrance into Nigeria. “In Borno, you can enter from 20 different points to the country. Therefore, you need a perfect understanding of the terrain. You need every knowledge that any politician has particularly any politician that operated in Borno state. That is all we can contribute for now.”
Previous
Next Post »

Whats Your Experience Like On Our Blog