Obadiah Mailafia says he can’t substantiate his claim that northern governor is the leader of Boko Haram terrorists.
Former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia said this when he appeared at Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday.
Mailafia was invited by DSS in August over his claim that a governor from the northern part of Nigeria is the sponsor of Boko Haram.
After his release from DSS custody, Mailafia said he was ready to lay down his life for the country like Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, did for his country.
But in an interview with BBC Hausa, Mailafia later said he got the information from “some traders” in the market and did not know that his statement would go viral.
Speaking in Jos, Plateau state capital on Monday, after he was questioned for a third time by the DSS, Mailafia said if he had his way, he would have put his words in a better language.
His words: “I had a routine appearance with the Department State Security, Plateau state command. I am very pleased that I was treated very professionally. There was no harassment or intimidation.
“Over a month ago when I gave a radio interview, based on what I heard. If I had my way there are few things I would say differently, but I spoke on the spur of the moments, and I believed that it was a matter of greater urgency to make a wake-up call to what is happening.
“I didn’t really mean to say that the government was part and parcel of the killings, I implied that they could do better because thousands are dying, innocent women and children, elderly and youths.
“But if I have my way I would have put it in better language, and I have no way of corroborating some of these things, I heard it and I could have follow them into their camps to confirm because I might not come back to tell the story, so that is the reality.
“I have indicated that I have reason to believe that my life has been in danger. I have no conclusive proof but I get threat, I get calls. Where I was staying, on Thursday, I saw some strange people at the gate trying to break in. I jumped the fence and escaped because I don’t know who they are.”
Meanwhile, Mailafia’s supporters had stationed themselves outside the office of the secret police chanting songs of solidarity.
