Jonathan travels to Chad with Sheriff
President Goodluck Jonathan came under fire yesterday for taking along alleged Boko Haram sponsor Ali Modu Sheriff to a security meeting with the Chadian president in Ndjamena on Monday.Jonathan travelled to meet with President Idriss Deby, in continuation of the Federal Government’s efforts towards forging a stronger alliance against terrorism with Nigeria’s neighbours.The State House […]
President Goodluck Jonathan came under fire yesterday for taking along alleged Boko Haram sponsor Ali Modu Sheriff to a security meeting with the Chadian president in Ndjamena on Monday.
Jonathan travelled to meet with President Idriss Deby, in continuation of the Federal Government’s efforts towards forging a stronger alliance against terrorism with Nigeria’s neighbours.
The State House late Monday released photos showing Sheriff seated at a meeting with Jonathan and Deby, apparently at the presidential office in Ndjamena.
One of the photos also shows Sheriff among members of the presidential entourage at the Ndjamena airport, with the former Borno governor about to shake hands with Jonathan.
The Chad trip came less than two weeks after Australian hostage negotiator Stephen Davis accused Sheriff and a former Chief of Army Staff General Azubuike Ihejirika of sponsoring the Boko Haram sect. They both denied the allegations.
But the State Security Service (SSS) said on Friday they would investigate the fresh accusation against the former Borno governor, having already invited him for questioning in the past.
In their separate reactions yesterday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and senior lawyer Femi Falana criticised the president for travelling with Sheriff even when the former governor is facing allegations of Boko Haram sponsorship.
In a statement emailed from London yesterday, APC’s national spokesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed wondered what message President Jonathan was sending when he took Sheriff along to Chad.
“This action by President Jonathan confirms what the APC has always believed: That the President either knows more than he is willing to admit on the issue of those who are behind the Boko Haram insurgency or he is willing to sacrifice the battle against terrorism on the altar of political expediency. Either way, this action by the President is the height of indiscretion at best, or a palpable exhibition of callowness at worst,” the statement said.
It said the President must have been aware of a report by a Nigerian defence adviser in 2011 alleging suspicious activities against Sheriff in Chad concerning Boko Haram and asking the Federal Government to investigate.
“(It) therefore beggars belief that President Jonathan will choose to take the same personality along with him to the same Chad on a trip to canvas cooperation against Boko Haram terrorists,” APC said.
The Presidency on Sunday issued a statement announcing that Jonathan was embarking on the Chad trip, to be accompanied by National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, Minister of Communication Technology Omobola Johnson, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nuruddeen Mohammed and Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Sheidu Mohammed. Sheriff’s name was not on the list.
APC said yesterday it was apparent that Jonathan “smuggled” Sheriff onto the presidential entourage.
“Therefore, the President owes Nigerians an explanation on why he took Modu Sheriff to Chad, what the President knows about the allegation hanging on the former governor’s neck concerning Boko Haram sponsorship and why his administration has not handed him (Sheriff) and Ihejirika to the International Criminal Court for investigation and possible prosecution, since it is now obvious that the administration is unwilling to probe them,” it said.
For his part, Lagos-based lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, said the inclusion of Sheriff in the presidential entourage to Chad has demonstrated that Jonathan “does not give a damn” about public opinion.
“The inclusion of Alhaji Modu sheriff in the presidential entourage is the height of executive insensitivity. By this act President Jonathan has demonstrated, once again, that he doesn’t give a damn about public opinion,” Falana told Daily Trust yesterday.
“Anyway, Alhaji Modu Sheriff’s presidential connection has not conferred immunity on him. Hence he has to be brought to justice sooner than later.”
On Sunday, Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said during the Chad visit, Jonathan and Deby would also discuss the further actualisation of agreements for greater cooperation against insurgents and terrorists reached by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon at a meeting in Paris earlier this year.
He added that the talks were expected to lead to the strengthening of the Paris Accord on joint border patrols, intelligence sharing and the prevention of the illicit movement of terrorists, criminals, arms and ammunition across shared borders.