Ali Modu Sheriff (born 1956) is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Borno State from 2003 to 2011. He was the first governor to serve two consecutive terms.[1]

Ali Modu Sheriff
Modu Sheriff in 2007
Chairman of the PDP National Working Committee
Acting
In office
16 February 2016 – 21 May 2016
Preceded byUche Secondus (Acting)
Succeeded byAhmed Makarfi (Caretaker)
Governor of Borno State
In office
29 May 2003 – 29 May 2011
DeputyAdamu Dibal
Preceded byMala Kachalla
Succeeded byKashim Shettima
Senator for Borno Central
In office
3 June 1999 – 3 June 2003
Preceded byHimself (1993)
Succeeded byMohammed Abba Aji
In office
5 December 1992 – 17 November 1993
Succeeded byHimself (1999)
Personal details
Born1956 (age 67–68)
Ngala, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Borno State, Nigeria)
Political partyAll Progressive Congress (2013–2014; 2018–present)
Other political
affiliations

Though Sheriff had held two elected offices as a member of All Nigeria People's Party, he would later join the All Progressives Congress becoming a founding member of that party. In 2014, Sheriff switched affiliation to the People's Democratic Party.[2][3] He acted as the National Working Committee chair from 16 February 2016 until the National Convention, when he was removed and replaced by Ahmed Makarfi.[4][5] On 26 April 2018 he defected back to All Progressives Congress.[6]

Background edit

Ali Modu Sheriff was born in Ngala Town, Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State in 1956. His father was the business tycoon Galadima Modu Sheriff. He attended Government Secondary School, Bama (1974–1979). He attended the London School of Business, where he studied Insurance, Banking and Finance. In 1981, he joined his father's construction company as a Director, later becoming Managing Director. In 1985, he registered his first company. His companies include Meroil Organisation and Union Chase.[7]

He was elected as a senator from Borno during the Third Nigerian Republic under the banner of NRC, his opponent then was Kolo Kingibe, wife of the Social Democratic Party, SDP chairman, Babagana Kingibe.[8] He was also a member of the Constitutional Conference and chaired the committee on states and local government.[1]

Senate career edit

Ali Modu Sheriff was elected Senator representing Borno Central on the platform of the National Republican Convention during the Third Republic, he was again elected on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during General Sani Abacha's military regime. After democracy was restored, in April 1999 he was again elected Senator, Borno Central on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).[1]

Governor of Borno State edit

In 2003, he ran for Governor of Borno State on the ANPP platform and won. He was re-elected in 2007 and sworn in on 29 May 2007. In both cases, he defeated the PDP candidate Kashim Ibrahim-Imam.[9]

PDP National Working Committee edit

During 2014, Sheriff switch affiliation to the People's Democratic Party. On 16 February 2016, he became the chairman of PDP National Working Committee (acting), serving until his removal from office at the 2016 National Convention. He was replaced by Ahmed Makarfi as Caretaker Chairman.[10]

PDP Crisis edit

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday 17 February 2017 declared former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In July 2017, following the verdict from a five-man Apex Court, Ali Modu Sheriff was removed as the PDP Chairman and Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi reinstated as the National Chairman of PDP.[11][12][13]

Controversy edit

He has been accused of being a sponsor to the Islamic sect Boko Haram by an Australian hostage negotiator Stephen Davies.[14][15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State". Nigeria Governors Forum. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  2. ^ "We'll replace Buhari in 2019; nothing will stop us, PDP Chairman, Sheriff, vows". Premium Times. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Ali Modu Sheriff Defects to PDP,Will Ikimi Join Him?". News Diary Online. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  4. ^ Ernest Chinwo (21 May 2016). "PDP Throws Out Sheriff, Markarfi Heads Caretaker Committee". Thisday. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Ex-Borno Governor, Modu Sheriff, Sworn in As PDP Chairman". AllAfrica. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  6. ^ "JUST IN: Ex-PDP chair, Ali Modu Sheriff, defects to APC". newtelegraphonline.com. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Governor - Dr. Ali Modu Sheriff". Borno State Government. Archived from the original on 9 September 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Borno: Younger Sheriff's Guber Bid Creates Tension". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  9. ^ Mohammed Gujbawu (28 November 2009). "Borno PDP: The enemy from within". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  10. ^ punchng (13 July 2017). "Makarfi takes over PDP HQ as Supreme Court sacks Sheriff". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ Herald, Premium (12 July 2017). "Supreme Court sacks Sheriff, reinstates Makarfi as PDP chairman". The Premium Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  12. ^ "BREAKING: Supreme Court sacks Sheriff, reinstates Makarfi as PDP chairman". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Supreme Court sacks Sheriff, declares Makarfi authentic PDP leader - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  14. ^ Sani Tukur (3 September 2014). "Ex-Gov Sheriff, accused of sponsoring Boko Haram, ready to face justice". Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  15. ^ Femi Falana (4 September 2014). "How Modu Sheriff Sponsored Boko Haram". Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.

External links edit