Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has denied allegations by notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, linking him to the financing of terrorism, describing the claim as a deliberate blackmail orchestrated by his political enemies.
Bafarawa dismissed the allegation as false and malicious, insisting that Turji had been recruited by individuals bent on tarnishing his reputation.
Turji had, in a viral video, accused two former Northern governors of fuelling insecurity in the region.
Bafarawa, who served as governor of Sokoto State from 1999 to 2007, categorically denied ever sponsoring banditry or terrorism, stressing that there was no trace of banditry or terrorism in Sokoto or Zamfara states at the time he left office in 2007.
He said he did not know anyone called Bello Turji and questioned the logic behind linking him to criminal activities nearly two decades after he exited office.
The former governor, who founded the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and was its presidential candidate in the 2007 election, described Turji’s claims as “daydreaming” and baseless.
He said: “Where was Bello Turji when I was governor of Sokoto State, and how old was he then? I had nothing to do with him then, and I still have nothing to do with him or his cohorts.
“What do I stand to benefit from banditry or terrorism at my age?
“It is shocking that a character like that is spewing outright lies against my name. He is clearly being used by some forces to drag my name through the mud.
“I remain irrevocably committed to peace and stability in my state and Nigeria, and I can never be involved in anything capable of destabilising the society.”
