Following the recent sacking of the former governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu
Sheriff, by the Supreme Court as the National Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party was celebrated on Wednesday by many residents of
Maiduguri
Senator Ali Modu
Sheriff called by his loyalists in Borno, ‘The Leader’,
had been in a legal battle with former Kaduna State Governor, Senator
Ahmed Makarfi over the leadership of the party.
A judgment on Wednesday, the apex court affirmed the decision of the party
at the Port Harcourt convention where Sheriff was unanimously removed
and replaced with Makarfi.
His sacking became the topic of discussion for virtually every gathering in the ancient town.
At
the popular ‘Monday Market’, many of the traders who were apparently
happy with the decision of the Supreme Court, gathered in groups
discussing the verdict.
Abba Sadiq, one of the traders who spoke
to our correspondent, said, “It is a decision we have been expecting for
so long, and definitely most people in the state are happy. Sheriff
supporters have been threatening that the Government House would be
their own by 2019.
“And we know that the state is going to be in
trouble with their desperation, the trouble they caused with Boko Haram
are still here with us and he would have been desperate to prove a point
as the PDP chairman.”
Kashim Konduga who also spoke to our
correspondent said, “The defeat of Sheriff is gain to the PDP as it now
has a chance to reinvent itself.”
“After the 2015 election, PDP
was dead but when Sheriff was made the chairman of the party he nailed
the coffin of the party and was about pushing it into the grave.
“But
with the decision of the Supreme Court, PDP can be taken from the grave
by the sincere party men and brought back to life. Perhaps it can still
give the ruling APC, a battle during the next political season.”
The
atmosphere at the State Secretariat was not different, as many civil
servants who were seen discussing, are happy about the verdict of the
apex court.
Many of them, expressed that Borno State is the
greatest gainer from the decision as the blow to Sheriff would give the
ruling party in the state an edge as they prepare for 2019.