A socio-political pressure group, Borno Patriots, has accused former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, of engaging in actions that threaten peace and stability in the state.
In a statement signed by its Interim Chairman, Dr. Umar B. Mustapha, on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Maiduguri, the group described Sheriff’s recent activities as “manipulative, deceptive, and potentially destabilizing,” warning that they could worsen the fragile security situation in the state.
The group called on security agencies to “urgently intervene and call Senator Sheriff to order before it is too late.”
Criticism of Channels TV Interview
The Patriots also faulted Senator Sheriff’s comments during a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, accusing him of making “desperate and envious remarks” against the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.
According to the statement, Sheriff’s claims that he “made” Shettima a commissioner and governor were “a pitiful attempt to play God.”
“The interview was a tragic but revealing peek into his dark mind,” the group stated. “It is Allah who gives power to whom He wills, not Senator Sheriff.”
The group noted that Shettima was already a respected banker and academic before joining politics and that his emergence as governor in 2011 was by divine providence, not Sheriff’s design.
On Boko Haram Claims
Responding to alleged claims by Sheriff that Shettima created Boko Haram, the Patriots described the statement as “baseless and misleading.”
“The Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, during Sheriff’s tenure as governor, long before Shettima took office in 2011,” the group said, adding that Shettima’s administration supported the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and security agencies to fight terrorism.
“End of Sheriff’s Political Era”
The Patriots said Sheriff’s political influence in Borno had “faded considerably” and described his renewed activities as a “desperate bid for relevance ahead of 2027.”
They alleged that his political record was marred by “corruption, highhandedness, and misuse of power,” linking his tenure to the early rise of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“Rather than resorting to vendetta politics, Senator Sheriff should emulate the humility and philanthropy of Vice President Shettima,” the group advised.
They urged Sheriff to channel his wealth into foundations that support education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, similar to initiatives by global philanthropists like Bill Gates and T.Y. Danjuma.
Call for Unity
Concluding, the Patriots called on Senator Sheriff to focus on uniting the people of Borno instead of “plotting against the Vice President.”
“Vice President Shettima’s leadership has brought pride to Borno through his commitment to unity, progress, and good governance,” the statement added. “That is a more honorable legacy to pursue.”
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