Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, a former two-time governor of Borno State is a trailblazer well versed in national politics, untying many political tangles to achieve result. Besides being Borno state’s top politician, he is also a leading political figure in Nigeria, with skills to unite the various interest groups across the country.
Having been in the game of politics which he plays like football for over 20 years now, Modu Sherrif carries the ball like an extension of himself, his sure gait an indication of the same. This is the North East political point guard – who has been taking his politics to incremental new heights for a longwhile now.
With influence that spans the country, he came into his current identity under as a result of his megawatts values and resilience, coupled with his skill to bulldoze his way through seeming odds have helped the Pillar of Borno State politics set himself apart in national politics.
Sheriff’s own personal political journey is somewhat of an awe-inspiring tale for young people who dream big. His dedication to whatever he sets out to achieve constantly puts him in the spotlight and earned him an invite to many political circle try-outs. It is a life lesson Sheriff encapsulates in an advice he often repeats in conversation: “Never give up on thing.”
With a vast political network, he can address capacity problem in leadership today. His experience and knowledge of party administration, dating back to his active participation in politics during. He has vast political network, and can address capacity problem in leadership today. His experience and knowledge of party administration, dating back to his active participation in politics to the Abacha era, and his rugged personality puts him in a good stead to weather any storm.
But his participation in politics became very notable since 1999. Elected twice as governor of Borno State, this APC stalwart was earlier elected senator on the platforms of the National Republican Convention, NRC; the United Nigeria Congress Party, UNCP and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.
Before the ANPP merged with other political parties to form the APC, Sheriff was the chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party. Although, the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, declared him the authentic national chairman of the PDP in February 2017, the Supreme Court in July of same year sacked the National Working Committee he chaired, thus paving way for the acting chairmanship of Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
Before the recent nationwide local government congresses of the APC, Sheriff demonstrated his altruistic disposition to the party by traversing the length and breadth of the country, mobilising grassroots support and appealing to Nigerians, old and young, on the imperative of sustaining the legacies of the President Muhammadu Buhari government beyond 2023.
Now as the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention draws near, the former Borno State Governor is showing interest in the National Chairmanship of the party. And many groups seem united in their appreciation of his megawatt values.
Not surprisingly, a good number of party faithful have since identified the former governor as the right man to succeed the caretaker working committee chaired by the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, given Senator Sheriff’s own knowledge of the power game and network of friendship cultivated and nurtured over the past three decades.
Sometimes ago, Senator Modu Sheriff expressed willingness to work with the party’s governors as well as other leaders to deliver on the party’s campaign promises. Since Sheriff made that pledge in a statement, in Abuja, there has been incremental groundswell of support for him, as his campaign organization reaches out to different spheres of influence in the party across the country.
As a result of this, some groups have started to throw their weight behind him, notably in the south. Not quite long ago, South South APC support groups in the party have endorsed the aspiration of former governor. They want him to emerge the next national chairman of the party because of his megawatts values, leadership and organizational skills.
The decision was reached during consultative meetings with various groups comprising of youth groups, women groups and stakeholders caucus of the party in the region by Comrade Jator Abido on behalf of Senator Sheriff. The groups asserted that Modu Sheriff possessed the right credentials to ensure that the APC gets victory in 2023 general elections.
According to a statement signed by Comrade Jator Abido, the various groups are planning a solidarity rally to be held in Delta State for the region to endorse Sheriff as the consensus candidate of the region for the position of national chairman of APC.
“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is the best candidate for APC national championship position as he posses the right credentials that can guarantee the victory of the party 2023. He is a bridge builder with dexterity to unite the various interests across the country.
“After due consideration, the groups unanimously resolved that Sen Sheriff remains the only person that will ensure that what is due to the region is retained. Consequently, there is going to be a solidarity rally and endorsement that will be held on the 30th of October in Delta State to declare support for Sen Ali Modu Sherif as a consensus candidate for the South South. Under a Sheriff chairmanship, every member of the party will enjoy better dividends that will go round”, the statement added.
Recently, the Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, David Umahi also threw his weight behind the former governor as the national chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC. Umahi advocated that Sheriff be allowed to go in unopposed for the position of the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, adding that he is the only man that can be accessed at any time. Umahi said this while addressing Sheriff who came for consultations in Ebonyi State.
“One thing I know about this man (Ali Modu sheriff) is that he is accessible and very humble to the core. He is a good man, if I were the leader of the party (APC) I will just announce him unopposed. I want to assure you that my father, Mr President is the leader of the party (APC) has a great role to play.
“He is the only one that can take the decision but if it is thrown open to make our choice, he is my choice. If Mr President says, well for the interest of the party, we will always obey him.
“Our prayers are with you sir, and I want to assure you that I have no regret to say that Mr President is a man with a good heart. And it is for other leaders to have the same good heart, it is for other leaders to be patriotic and then the country will be a better place for all of us.
“If one has a good heart and others are not patriotic, no development can happen. No one man can achieve anything on his own, and so, I call for support for Mr President. And he (Buhari) is a man that is conscious of his integrity and no one can take it out from him.
“I have no regret or apology in saying that Mr President is a man with a good heart” he insisted.
Earlier in a remark, Sheriff, said he intends to unite the party if allowed to be the national chairman of APC.
“The only two strongest states in Southeastern Nigeria are APC states. With what I have seen, I can now tell people to visit Ebonyi State, this is because the governor (Umahi) have made APC governors proud” he said.
Meanwhile the Senator Sheriff campain organization recently raised the alarm over an alleged plot by an unnamed serving Senator, who is also interested in contesting for the APC chairmanship to sow a seed of discord between Sheriff and other party leaders.
Mikko said, “It has come to the notice of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff Campaign Organisation that a former governor and a serving Senator who is also interested in contesting the APC National Chairmanship position, is hatching a plan to use the media to course mischief and disaffection between Sheriff, APC governors and its leadership.
“The public and APC governors in particular, should note that such disinformation is baseless and untrue and cannot be coming from Ali Modu Sheriff.
“It is only to create friction in the polity. Sheriff remains loyal to APC and to its governors whom he has good working relationship with over the years.”
The campaign team quoted Sheriff as saying he has great regards for party leaders especially governors with whom he has enjoyed a tremendous working relationship with over the years.
And in a statement reported by a national newspaper, an APC chieftain in Borno State, Mustapha Gambo, underscored the suitability of Sheriff as Buni’s successor thus: “He has a temperament uncommon among politicians of today. The unique thing about this aspiration is that chieftains of the party, made up of former governors, serving and ex-National Assembly members, members of State Houses of Assembly across the states of the federation, serving and former ministers to mention a few, want him to come on board and pilot the affairs of our party at this critical time.”
According to him, APC parades seasoned leaders, many of whom have paid their dues over time. However, the politics of 2023 is such that a greenhorn with limited knowledge of party administration “is not what we need if we must realise our dream of renewing our tenancy of Aso Rock beyond 2023.”
“Those that have been linked with interest in the office of the national chairman of the APC, no doubt, are respected leaders and stakeholders in the Nigerian project. We can’t deny the fact that these are men who have written their chapters in the historical compendium of our country’s journey to democracy.
We need to win the next presidentialelection and convince Nigerians that voting APC was the best electoral decision they could ever made. “We need a strong character, a man who has seen it all in the field of business and politics. APC needs a man who is contended with what the Almighty God has given to him; not a leader who is coming to rehabilitate himself and revive dwindling businesses.
This is the strength of Sheriff’s aspiration and commitment to a party he has done a lot for since it came into existence in 2013.” Gambo’s optimism notwithstanding, questions have been asked as to how the former governor would succeed in charting a new course for the APC, given his affiliation with the PDP in the past.
This is indeed true. Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is adept at building relationship, never one to openly disregard others. And it explains why Senator Sheriff , a founding member of the APC, was able to leave the party in 2014 for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, emerging as its national chairman two years later. It was a feat many attributed to his vast political network, experience and knowledge of party administration.
Elected twice as governor of Borno State, the APC stalwart was earlier elected senator on the platforms of the National Republican Convention, NRC; the United Nigeria Congress Party, UNCP and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.
For too long, Senator Modu Sheriff has tried to be one the greatest politicians in , and a great statesman. Could this be the senator’s moment to undergo to turn things around? Could he revitalize APC’s national standing? Many believe he can do that, for he has an inner seriousness and steel, combined with constructive and creative cajoling and nudging. He will have to match his words with deeds to ensure the APC is in the advanced guard of those trying to build the country. He has reputation for matching his words with action. As far as he is concerned, there will be no room for half measures or fudges.
Senator Sherrif, with his big leadership and negotiation credentials and a leading role in reaching out to the grassroots, will be a great asset for the APC in its quest for electoral victory in 2023 general elections. A little less skepticism might persuade the rest of the world to follow his lead.
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