There are signs that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has been unsettled by the revelation of the convicted spokesman of Boko Haram, Umaru Konduga Ali, that the violent Islamic sect was working for the party’s interest in Borno State.
The sect has claimed responsibility for the spate of bombings in Maiduguri and other parts of the North for nearly one year.
Ali, who bore the pseudo name, Usman Al-Zawahiri, had told the State Security Service during interrogation, that the sect had sent frightening text messages to judges at the Borno State Election Petitions Tribunal in order to intimidate them.
Besides, he had alleged that a PDP senator, Ali Ndume, was one of the sect’s sponsors.
The PDP had filed a petition against the election of Governor Kashim Shettima of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, shortly after the April general elections.
However, a national officer of the PDP, who spoke on these developments on Friday, said that with the revelation, Nigerians would have the impression that the party was responsible for the national security challenge posed by the Boko Haram attacks.
The source, who craved anonymity, said, "It is unfortunate. Though the claim cannot be said to be genuine, the mere mentioning of members of the PDP as sponsors of the group is damaging.
"Now, we have been painted as the one trying to undermine the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is our national leader.
"It is like we are the one working against our own government. It is a serious allegation, which may affect the impression that people have about us."
Following the threat, the election tribunal relocated to Abuja, where it delivered ruling in favour of the ANPP.
Al-Zawahiri, had pleaded guilty before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, when he was arraigned and was consequently convicted.
Besides the election tribunal members, Ali said that the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and his counterpart in Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, were others that were threatened through text messages.
Other recipients of threat text messages, the former Boko Haram sect spokesman said, were Senator Sanusi Daggash (former Minister of Works) and Ambassador Dalhatu Tafida, Nigeria’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
On Boko Haram’s relationship with Ndume, Ali, who is not literate in English language, alleged that some of the said text messages were written and sent to him by Ndume.
But Ndume, who has been in the National Assembly since 1999, and being tried for treason on account of Ali’s allegations against him, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.
While the image crisis arising from Ali and Ndume’s trial persists, the ANPP in Abuja toldSATURDAY PUNCH that the development had vindicated it.
The ANPP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Emma Eneukwu, said the revelation had shown that the PDP was desperate to get power at all costs.
He said when the leadership of his party raised the alarm concerning the incessant killings of members of the party in Borno and Yobe states, some Nigerians thought they were crying wolf where none existed.
He said, "We said it before that the Boko Haram issue was a political mischief in the hands of some people. We lost a lot of our members in Borno State, including our governorship candidate.
"We cried out that some political leaders were out to kill and eliminate our members for political reasons. It was surprising that nothing was done by the security agencies then.
"Ndume was our member before he defected to the PDP. He was the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives under the umbrella of the ANPP.
"The mere mentioning of his name baffled us. But we are not worried because the PDP wants power at all costs. It is so bad.
"But we will continue to appeal to the people to be law-abiding and allow peace to reign."
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Rufai Alkali, declined comments on the issue, when contacted on Thursday.
"No, not now, we are going to talk later. But remember that the matter is before the court. So, let the law take its course," he had snapped at a briefing on Tuesday.
However, the Chairman of the PDP in Borno State, Alhaji Baba Basharu, in an interview with our correspondent, debunked the ANNP claim. He said the PDP must not be blamed for ANPP members’ killings in the state.
He said at no point did the party take over Boko Haram, adding that the killings were not an indication of the party’s collaboration with the sect.
He said, "Boko Haram’s grudge was against former Governor Ali Sheriff. They were against Sheriff, his government, his party and his people as well as warders and policemen, who they said killed their leaders."
On the linking of Ndume to the sect’s activities, he said the senator joined the party shortly before the election when he knew it would be difficult for him to realise his political ambition in the ANPP.
He, however, insisted that "Ndume is a credible person" and that the party did not believe the allegations made against him.
Though Al-Zawahiri had been convicted, Ndume was remanded in the SSS custody as investigations into his case had yet to be concluded.
But Chief Magistrate Oyewumi ruled that the senator should be allowed unhindered access to medical facilities and his team of lawyers. Ndume had earlier told the court that he was invited by the SSS on Monday and that he never thought he would pass the night there.
He had stated that he had prostate health challenges.
His lawyer, Mr. C.I. Nnaemeka, brought an oral application praying the court to admit his client to bail, being a serving senator, but the magistrate asked him to apply for bail formally.
The matter has been adjourned till December 6, 2011 for hearing.
There are signs that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has been unsettled by the revelation of the convicted spokesman of Boko Haram, Umaru Konduga Ali, that the violent Islamic sect was working for the party’s interest in Borno State.
The sect has claimed responsibility for the spate of bombings in Maiduguri and other parts of the North for nearly one year.
Ali, who bore the pseudo name, Usman Al-Zawahiri, had told the State Security Service during interrogation, that the sect had sent frightening text messages to judges at the Borno State Election Petitions Tribunal in order to intimidate them.
Besides, he had alleged that a PDP senator, Ali Ndume, was one of the sect’s sponsors.
The PDP had filed a petition against the election of Governor Kashim Shettima of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, shortly after the April general elections.
However, a national officer of the PDP, who spoke on these developments on Friday, said that with the revelation, Nigerians would have the impression that the party was responsible for the national security challenge posed by the Boko Haram attacks.
The source, who craved anonymity, said, "It is unfortunate. Though the claim cannot be said to be genuine, the mere mentioning of members of the PDP as sponsors of the group is damaging.
"Now, we have been painted as the one trying to undermine the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is our national leader.
"It is like we are the one working against our own government. It is a serious allegation, which may affect the impression that people have about us."
Following the threat, the election tribunal relocated to Abuja, where it delivered ruling in favour of the ANPP.
Al-Zawahiri, had pleaded guilty before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, when he was arraigned and was consequently convicted.
Besides the election tribunal members, Ali said that the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and his counterpart in Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, were others that were threatened through text messages.
Other recipients of threat text messages, the former Boko Haram sect spokesman said, were Senator Sanusi Daggash (former Minister of Works) and Ambassador Dalhatu Tafida, Nigeria’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
On Boko Haram’s relationship with Ndume, Ali, who is not literate in English language, alleged that some of the said text messages were written and sent to him by Ndume.
But Ndume, who has been in the National Assembly since 1999, and being tried for treason on account of Ali’s allegations against him, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.
While the image crisis arising from Ali and Ndume’s trial persists, the ANPP in Abuja toldSATURDAY PUNCH that the development had vindicated it.
The ANPP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Emma Eneukwu, said the revelation had shown that the PDP was desperate to get power at all costs.
He said when the leadership of his party raised the alarm concerning the incessant killings of members of the party in Borno and Yobe states, some Nigerians thought they were crying wolf where none existed.
He said, "We said it before that the Boko Haram issue was a political mischief in the hands of some people. We lost a lot of our members in Borno State, including our governorship candidate.
"We cried out that some political leaders were out to kill and eliminate our members for political reasons. It was surprising that nothing was done by the security agencies then.
"Ndume was our member before he defected to the PDP. He was the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives under the umbrella of the ANPP.
"The mere mentioning of his name baffled us. But we are not worried because the PDP wants power at all costs. It is so bad.
"But we will continue to appeal to the people to be law-abiding and allow peace to reign."
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Rufai Alkali, declined comments on the issue, when contacted on Thursday.
"No, not now, we are going to talk later. But remember that the matter is before the court. So, let the law take its course," he had snapped at a briefing on Tuesday.
However, the Chairman of the PDP in Borno State, Alhaji Baba Basharu, in an interview with our correspondent, debunked the ANNP claim. He said the PDP must not be blamed for ANPP members’ killings in the state.
He said at no point did the party take over Boko Haram, adding that the killings were not an indication of the party’s collaboration with the sect.
He said, "Boko Haram’s grudge was against former Governor Ali Sheriff. They were against Sheriff, his government, his party and his people as well as warders and policemen, who they said killed their leaders."
On the linking of Ndume to the sect’s activities, he said the senator joined the party shortly before the election when he knew it would be difficult for him to realise his political ambition in the ANPP.
He, however, insisted that "Ndume is a credible person" and that the party did not believe the allegations made against him.
Though Al-Zawahiri had been convicted, Ndume was remanded in the SSS custody as investigations into his case had yet to be concluded.
But Chief Magistrate Oyewumi ruled that the senator should be allowed unhindered access to medical facilities and his team of lawyers. Ndume had earlier told the court that he was invited by the SSS on Monday and that he never thought he would pass the night there.
He had stated that he had prostate health challenges.
His lawyer, Mr. C.I. Nnaemeka, brought an oral application praying the court to admit his client to bail, being a serving senator, but the magistrate asked him to apply for bail formally.
The matter has been adjourned till December 6, 2011 for hearing.
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