The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has renamed its post-graduate school after the pioneer Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu.
This was as first Republic Minister of Solid Minerals, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Sule extolled the virtures of the late Ribadu, describing him as the stabilizing force in the administration of Nigeria.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the renamed Ribadu Campus situated in the old site of the academy, Ambassador Sule, said Ribadu was a great Nigerian of inestimable value.
He added that, “Pa Ribadu was the stabilizing force in the administration of Nigeria, he was not the prime minster, he was not the premier of the north but, he was the leader of leaders, he was a strong man of his party.
“He was a true Nigerian, he was before he became Minister of Defence, Minister of Mines and Power, I succeeded him in 1959 after the independence elections, as minister of mines and power, he was in charge of petroleum, it was during his time that Shell started exploring for oil in Nigeria.
“Indeed, when northern Nigeria’s money was used to pay the central governments contribution to the exploration of oil and he was advised that the money should be used either in an investment or a loan, so that when the oil comes, the north can benefit from it, this great Nigerian said no, we are all Nigerians and if money from the north is used to develop an part of the country we are happy that we are helping our brothers.
“He was also responsible for influencing the shell to announce its pint, par Ribadu was not academic qualified, but he was what I call him, a native intellectual, he was a friend to all the members of the house, irrespective of their parties, he was a great man.
Maitama Sule equally described the Armed Forces as the most important part of the government adding that, “I will like to see somebody in charge of that to be a man who is respected by all, who would be seen as the father, par Ribadu was seen as father by the armed forces.
“Pa Ribadu loved the soldiers so much that during the budget session of the House of Representatives, when we were discussing budget for the various ministries, the defence budget was the biggest and it took a long time to discuss the budget and approve it and when par Ribadu got up, he said, I am the Minster of Defence and so long as I hold that position, soldiers will eat well, soldiers will sleep well for if there is any trouble, it is these soldiers that will go there first and sacrifice their lives while you are asleep in your houses so not a single kobo will be deducted from my budget and he sat down and the whole house applauded him chanting ‘power,power’.”
He commended the Commandant of the NDA, for honouring Ribadu and prayed that the government of the federation will do the same.
Highlights of the event were the tree planting ceremony where 10,000 trees are to be planted and the commissioning of the NDA magazine conducted by the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Hon. Aliyu Batera.