Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, has accused his predecessor, Senator Kashim Shettima, of masterminding a purported leaked audio claiming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) members want Sheriff to emerge as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

A purported leaked audio message from some alleged PDP NEC members had surfaced online where the opposition party members reportedly said they preferred Sheriff to emerge as the ruling party’s chairman.

But a statement on Friday in Abuja by his media directorate, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff Campaign Organisation (SASCO), signed by Senator Victor Lar, stated that the audio should be disregarded because it is untrue and baseless.

However, the statement did not mention the ex-governor’s name. But it was a direct reference to Shettima.

The statement read: “I wish to recall that on October 5, 2021, we drew the attention of the public to the plans of a two-term former governor of Borno and a current serving senator who is also interested in contesting the APC national chairmanship position to launch negative media attacks on the person of Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff.

“I had told the public that the two-term former Borno governor and current senator was hatching a plan to use the media to cause mischief and disaffection between Sheriff, APC governors and national leadership of the APC.”

Modu-Sheriff further alleged that the senator has launched his first phase of his attack with the said leaked message which is nothing but a figment of his imagination, adding that part of the plans is to whittle down the chances of Sheriff becoming the next APC national chairman.

“I, therefore, urge the public, APC members and governors in particular to note that the purported leaked audio message is baseless and untrue and should be disregarded, it should be treated as trash.

“It is obvious that the hard work of Ali-Modu Sheriff and the way he is going about his campaign in a calm and matured manner has unsettled the former two-term Borno governor and current senator seeing that Sheriff has gained unprecedented support from party members and critical stakeholders from across the country.

“We are, however, aware that the former two-term governor of Borno in collaboration with his fellow night travellers are planning to unleash more negative media attacks on the person of Sheriff by sponsoring more filthy media attack.”

The former governor noted that the said senator is out to blackmail him because of his 2023 vice presidential ambition and to gain political favour and the support of one of the presidential aspirants from the South.

“He is working for a presidential aspirant to impress him and to make him believe that he is working for him ahead of 2023 presidential election, so he will adopt him his running mate for the election.

“The former two term governor of Borno believes that he is working hard to impress the 2023 presidential aspirant by taking on Ali-Modu Sheriff because of his vice presidential ambition.

“He also believes that by attacking Ali-Modu Sheriff, he will gain the confidence of the Southern presidential aspirant and be made his running mate in 2023.

“It is important to note that the actions of the former Borno governor and current senator had caused a lot of damage on the reputation of the Southern presidential aspirant as he is indirectly destroying his reputation across the country.”

He noted further that the current senator is already causing serious credibility problems for the aspirant across the federation, urging him to refrain and to desist from attacking Sheriff.

“Sheriff is in the race for the APC national chairmanship because he wants to take the party to the highest level and to build on the legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari, he will never be in opposition to any APC governors who are the party’s leaders in their respective states because he has great regards for them and cannot work for the opposition PDP.

“We, however, advise the current senator and his cohorts not to drag President Buhari and APC leadership into his ambition, but should engage himself in more fruitful venture and be focused,” Lar said.