Nuhu Ribadu is in the news again. It is either he likes to be in the news for good or wrong reasons, or relishes news laced in controversy.
To make the headlines, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opens his mouth before realising that he should have checked with his head first.
That explains why two posts on his Facebook wall last week are dominating social media with huge political consequences.
Consider the second post: “My good friends, I know how difficult it may be for you to come to terms with my defection to another party. But I must assure you that it’s a carefully considered decision for which I do not wish to hurt anyone’s feeling. I’ll not embark on a needless animosity with my good friends, irrespective of political, religious, regional and ethnic affiliations.
“Let me quickly make it known that I did not issue a statement disparaging APC and its members, including Governors Amaechi, Kwankwaso …. These were clearly fabricated, expected backlash, by mischievous characters interested in misleading the public and drawing a picture of non-existent feuds between me and my good friends.
“My defection shouldn’t be seen as an initiation of political antagonism with my good friends in another party. I still hold them in high esteem, and even where there are marked differences, I believe there are decorous and honorable ways of resolving them. So, kindly disregard any statement said to be by me attacking the personality of any politician since my defection. I’ll never allow myself to be drawn into such disrespectful exchange.
“As for my next step in this political struggle, this would be made known in due time. For now, I wish to assure you that my defection is in pursuit of a good cause, and never out of any selfish interests as portrayed by a section. Thanks for bearing with me on this decision, and for those who have been in solidarity with my struggles and still giving me the benefits of the doubt, I’m most grateful. I’ll never let you down on this new path. Thank you!”
This was what Ribadu posted on his Facebook page on August 19, 2014.
Two days earlier, he had posted the write up below on the same Facebook page:
“I’m a young man and age is still on my side. I will not allow anyone to trade with me, for the second time. It was wrong for Governor Kwankwaso to describe my decision to join the PDP as a betrayal, because I consulted widely. The truth is that the APC does not have what it takes to change Nigeria and any ambition driven by grievance, bitterness and vendetta cannot be said to possess any element of change.
“And it is only a matter of time and Nigerians will know who truly loves them. I think the APC would have done well without the aggrieved PDP governors. With due respect to Governor Amaechi, he is simply hungry for power and do not know how to go about it, except with money.
“I may not know how to become the President of Nigeria, but I know it’s never for the highest bidder and it’s never up for sale. It’s an undeniable fact that President Jonathan has done well for Nigeria in such a very short time and I think he is the answer to the prayer of many Nigerians. I must not be President, but I have vowed to support anyone who shares the same vision I have for Nigeria. And take it from me President Jonathan has surpassed my vision for Nigeria.”
Not long ago news filtered out that Ribadu was planning to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC), a major opposition party in which formation he played “active role”. By the close of last week it became a done deal.
On Monday, August 12, Ribadu reportedly obtained the form for the October 11 Adamawa State governorship election through his associate, Hammidu Mahmud.
Others who obtained the form included former Lagos State Military Administrator, Buba Marwa; acting Governor Umar Fintiri; former Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak; former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Ahmed Moddibo; former Health Minister, Idi Hong, and Awwal Tukur, son of former PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur.
Since Ribadu indicated interest to join the PDP to use it to advance his political ambition, he has, more than any other aspirant, deployed his usual propaganda, blackmail and name-dropping to undermine his competitors in what ordinarily should be a free and fair contest.
It beats the imagination that Nigerians see Ribadu as a credible person because he headed the EFCC during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration to do a hatchet job.
I am not against him joining any party of his choice, but it causes worry that he carries himself in a way that suggests that we are all fools and have short memories.
During the merger of the APC not long ago, Ribadu reportedly said he would not accept the presidential ticket of the PDP even if it was given to him free. When it suits him, he runs somebody down to gain advantage. That is hardly the mark of a good leader.
I hope we have not forgotten the events that led to Ribadu joining the now rested Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for which he emerged the presidential candidate in 2011?
Because he wanted to be used by former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu (and Tinubu actually used him) to shore up his socio-political image, Ribadu – who as EFCC Chairman once announced that Tinubu’s corruption had an international dimension – made a 360-degree turn.
Tinubu became to him the most credible Nigerian.
As EFCC boss, Ribadu wrote a report that slammed corruption on all 36 governors who served during the Obasanjo years, including Umaru Yar’Adua whom Obasanjo later picked to become president in 2007.
Ribadu wrote that report not just to satisfy the calculations of Obasanjo for a third term agenda but to clandestinely mischievously prepare himself as the only clean Nigerian worthy of contesting for the presidency then, as events indicated much later when he started to undermine Obasanjo himself.
A man who sees himself as the only clean Nigerian ready to remove the log in the eyes of all of us but too blind to see the speck in his own eyes cannot be trusted with leadership.
I am not surprised that within two days Ribadu changed his mind on what he wants to tell the public on his defection to the PDP and governorship ambition.
A man must stand by his word. I thought Ribadu was man enough to own up to his own words on his Facebook wall, but he thinks that Adamawa people, including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, whom he once humiliated, can always be fooled.
Adamawa people do not desire him because he cannot be trusted.
Promotion of police chiefs
On Tuesday, August 12, the Police Service Commission (PSC) promoted six Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and two Commissioners of Police (CPs) to Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs).
The AIGs promoted are Dan’Azumi Doma, Mamman Tsafe, David Omojola, Solomon Arase, Christopher Katso and Salihu Hashidu
The CPs promoted are Hilary Opara and Sotonye Wakama.
Opara is the only Igbo man occupying such a high office in the police now.
We do not have Igbo top positions in the army, immigration, customs and prisons. It will only be fair to post Opara to B Department (Operations) or else the signal our people will continue to get is that they are nowhere in the security apparatus of the country.
I hope Jonathan is taking note.
