Borno blasts: I never blamed any govt agent – SAS’s coordinator From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri Alhaji Bako Buba Kolo, chairman of the campaign organisation of the immediate past Borno state governor, Senator Ali Modu yesterday denied issuing any statement which indicted agents of the state government for the blast. However, Alhaji Kolo accused a serving commissioner in the Governor Kashim Shettima’s cabinet, who is seemingly regarded as an ally of Sheriff (Inuwa Bwala) of ‘smuggling his name in a statement which blamed government agents for last week’s suicide bombing in Maiduguri. Peoples Daily recalled that the suicide bombing which killed over 30 persons had coincided with the visit of Senator Sheriff. Thereafter, a statement duly signed by Kolo had accused government agents for the attack, alleging that the blast was actually targeted at the former governor. In the statement, Kolo was reported to have said that the suicide attack was not by the outlawed Boko Haram sect but agent of government out to discredit SAS. However, Kolo while addressing a press conference said he never authored any press statement at any time, insisting that the statement was planted by a commissioner in the present administration and that his name should not be dragged into the faceoff between the erstwhile governor and the present one. While repeatedly swearing in the name of Almighty God that he was not in any way linked with the controversial statement and also denied being coerced to make the denial, as he stressed that “I have no fear of anyone at all; because my conscience is clear. “I’m convinced that the commissioner was behind it because he had never phoned me in the past three years but immediately after the incident he called and said to me we have to protect the interest of oga (SAS). I then said OK, give me time to think. To my surprise, the thing I heard was a statement said to have been signed by myself, accusing government agents for targeting Sheriff for the deadly explosion. This is very unfortunate for one’s name to be used in such a serious mess against government,” he added. When contacted, the Borno state commissioner of Information, Inuwa Bwala said, “I did not know the fellow in question. Before Sheriff’s visit, he came to introduce himself as SAS coordinator. “He sought for financial support to enable him go and welcome SAS in Gombe, which I granted. He told me later on the phone that he knew SAS was not behind the bomb and he was going to speak out. “I neither encouraged nor stopped him. I challenge him to prove I issued a statement with his name. I have tried not to take sides in the matter and I hope somebody will not provoke me into talking”, the Borno information commissioner said.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 09:28:49 +0000
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