Re: In Search of Dr Stephen Davis
Below is a selection of some of the reactions I received. Many have been edited for space or improved clarity. ‘Mr Adibe has reasoned on this well as usual but the points used to dismiss allegations against Ihejirika ignore one issue – that the allegation against him could possibly be true: with trillions of Naira […]
Below is a selection of some of the reactions I received. Many have been edited for space or improved clarity.
‘Mr Adibe has reasoned on this well as usual but the points used to dismiss allegations against Ihejirika ignore one issue – that the allegation against him could possibly be true: with trillions of Naira budgeted for security in his time, yet there were no provisions of weapons for the soldiers. Though it is not a proof, let’s not overlook the fact that people can benefit from insurgency to sabotage government’s efforts to contain. What about alleged government officials and importers in oil business sabotaging government’s efforts to build new refineries? Anything is possible. Why was Sheriff in Chad? My view is that facts are better discovered rather than negotiated. Greed and politics can make many people do anything. As for me, let us not get distracted. Bagudu, Minna. Text, 0703 494 3575’
‘Jide, how much did you collect from Modu Ali Sheriff before you wrote like a defence lawyer? Nigerians are wiser. A headmaster was once a teacher. -Text: 0805 855 9098’
‘Dear J Adibe. Thank you for speaking the mind of many of us in your September 11 column regarding Davis and his “revelations”. Prof Gyuse, text, 0803 615 1205’.
‘If what you have written is not in defence of Modu Sheriff, I don’t know what it is. Anyway, Modu Sheriff said he is taking Davis to court and Dr Davis is waiting to present his evidence in court. Please encourage Sheriff to go to court so that we the people of Borno will know the truth.-Text 0803 408 4367’
‘W.R.T. “In Search of Dr Stephen Davis”, I agree with your assertion that he could be a double agent considering that the global powers that be maintain their hegemony in this way i.e. using characters like Davis. But a certain belief is that there are stooges and devil incarnates whose charity is plausible.
S Garba, text: 0803 631 8171’
‘Mr Adibe, columnists like you who are constructive, objective, fair and with a sense of patriotic comments on national issues are rare. Ref: “In Search of Dr S Davis” Sekila N in Jos, text 0703 308 0265’
‘So Ihejirika has no motive to sponsor BH but Ali Modu Sheriff must have motive to sponsor Boko Haram? I think we still have a long way to go in getting public information. -Text, 0803 704 1155’.
‘I share the same thoughts as you. You really read my mind in your today’s write-up.- Usman I.B., text, 0803 887 2151’.
‘I learn a lot whenever I read your column. Your writings including “In Search of Dr Stephen Davis” prove you are a talented writer. However as the Hausa would say, “way au san na qi”, meaning the best response to a clever/crafty poser is to say, “I disagree”. Adibe, let’s call a spade a spade. Better stand by the truth because time will tell. -Text 0818 797 2753’.
‘Why are Ihejirika and Sheriff indicted on Boko Haram? Why is the President romancing with Sheriff? Is there no element of truth on what Nyako said? Are you not disappointed in the President? May Almighty God curse and punish ANYONE supporting them on this heinous act, including ME and YOU. -Text, 0803 493 8433’
‘Your piece “In Search of Dr Stphen Davis” was just like travelling with Modu Sheriff in your car from your house to the Daily Trust newspaper house. Despite the damning allegations against him, comparing him with Zik and Soyinka was uncharitable to these statesmen.-Usman, Abuja, text 0803 790 1907’.
‘Good job Mr Jideofor. I always read your column on Thursdays. You are always sentimental and biased, why? Look at your piece, “In Search of Dr Stephen Davis”. I expect someone with your intellect to be honest and transparent’. -Text, 0808 027 7987’
‘Mr Adibe, don’t be tired of enlightening us as history repeats itself. Late Prof Abdul Lahi Smith told his students to re-write our African history knowing he was a member of the British team that created folklore as our history. They followed Mungo Park’s and John Lander’s etc footprints. Thanks for “In Search of Dr Davis”.-U A Mohd, Kano, text 0708 003 9690’.
‘Whatever Jideofor’s motive is, he appears also to be a defender of the sponsors of Boko Haram. Please if you don’t know what to write about, don’t write.-Past Dabit, text, 0806 543 6323’
‘Jide, your Thursday piece refers. I hope God spares your life to see what the meaning of the current Boko Haram really is in 6 or so years’ time when Jonathan is not on the saddle if you still pretend not to know.-Text, 0705 318 1409.’
‘Adibe, you are always an apologist of the PDP. Why are you always biased in your assessments? Sorry for you. -Text, 0803 300 5966’.
‘Thank you for the very objective piece. Well in my opinion, Ihejirika might not have been a sponsor but I believe he allowed Boko Haram to thrive by disbanding JTF and also during his time mutinies started. Text, 0705 936 1549.’
‘Once again trying to trivialize an important issue through clever academics. In any case, the allegation is a starting point if we are serious about finding out Boko Haram’s sponsors. Text, 0703 599 3680’.
‘Why do most Nigerians, both literate and illiterate, tend to hastily fall prey to most information before proper investigation and verification: look at the case of salt in water for ebola prevention which later turned out to be false with the resultant effect of both illnesses and fatalities. -Text 0802 650 9202’.
‘Adibe, you don’t need to tell or explain all these things because our elites (in the North) know that the problem is that most of them don’t know Nigeria beyond their own region. They can only deceive our illiterate masses but down south people are far more informed. See you on the voting day.-Abdul Haruna, Kano, text, 0705 594 1793’.
‘Dr Adibe, only thorough investigations can clear the allegations “beyond reasonable doubts”. M.S’s involvement could be a case of adventure turned into misadventure in his vaulting quest for political lordship of Borno State while Ihejirika could be linked to the now widely held belief in the north that BH is a grand design by some southern political elements, especially in the SS and SE regions to divide and weaken the north in the politico-economic dynamics of contemporary Nigeria. Why not? – Text, 0807 299 1437’.
‘Well done for always defending PDP and her interests in the name of putting things into perspective.
No name, text, 0806 123 0394’.
‘Adibe, you are only supporting your kin i.e. Ihejirika. He and Sheriff should go to the Hague. That is justice.
No name, text, 0818 439 4159’.
Re: “In Search of Dr Stephen Davis”. What a balanced and objective write-up. Kudos to you Sir.
Sani K Said, text, 0803 315 3536’