I joined PDP for Nigeria’s sake, ex-Borno Governor, Sheriff, says

A former Governor of Borno State, Ali Sheriff, on Friday said his decision to dump the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party was in the best interest of Nigeria.

Speaking with journalists after a meeting a closed door meeting President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Sheriff said having been elected state governor twice and a senator three times, his interest is now on how to move the nation forward.

"This means that in every aspect of life, I am one of the stakeholders in Nigeria because if by the help of God, the people of Nigeria had placed me in that position at every time, my interest now should be on how to move the nation forward.

"Our interest should be on what makes the nation move forward. My decisions will be guided by the interest of the nation first. My thinking of moving to the PDP is also in the interest of the nation.

"We believe that every time, as a leader who leads people, you should advise them on the right course of action," he said.

The former governor, however, said he did not discuss PDP- related issues with Mr. Jonathan on Friday as he was there only for personal discussion.

Responding to questions on the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the North, Mr. Sheriff noted that the violence by the Boko Haram sect was a serious concern to everybody and all Nigerians must be ready to join hands to solve the problem.

Mr. Sheriff said he would use his experience as a former governor of the state to help find a solution to the insurgency.

"I am not a security man or personnel. Whatever that as civilian I can do using my position as the chief executive of the state for eight years, what I have seen during my tenure, I will contribute to the security agencies through whom I got those information.

"What you have to understand is that this country is a big country and Borno State is a different state from any other state in Nigeria.

"Borno has the biggest land mass bordering Niger, Chad and Cameroon. It is an open border. Borno is not like the Republic of Benin with only one entrance into Nigeria.

"In Borno, you can enter from 20 different points to the country. Therefore, you need a perfect understanding of the terrain. You need every knowledge that any politician has particularly any politician that operated in Borno State. That is all we can contribute for now," he said.