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Who Is Nuhu Ribadu And The EFCC? By Abubakar Adamu, MSc, MCILT. England, UK.
My attention has been drawn to a factual error in the above titled article published recently on: gamji.com/NEWS6150htm and kwenu.com/publications/articles6000/adamu/ribadu_efcc.htm Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is not the son of the late Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu the then Minister of Lagos, Minister of Works and Defence in the first republic under President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe after the 1960 Independence. Some comments and feedback:- *****
Dear Mallam Adamu, ****** Dear Adamu
Your above piece made an interesting reading but some information you gave and some praises of Ribadu are indeed faulty for example;
Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu former Minister of defence in the 60,s is not Ribadu's biological father as you wrote. His father is one Alhaji Ahmadu Ribadu. Nuhu said this in an interview with a BBC Hausa correspondence sometimes in 2005 ask BBC Hausa service for clarification.
Your praises of Ribadu as doing nobody's bidding bla..bla.. is also faulty. Just read an article beneath yours in Gamji on Ribadu (SILENCE.....) there are some questions raised on his utterances, conduct and mode of operation visa viz civilized manner he clamed EFCC operate. Just three days ago they went with 40 armed policemen to arrest Globacom MD when a simple invitation could equally get him to their office and many more. How do you respond to these question. We expect well researched and objective piece of writing as you used to please. Thank Dauda Mohammed ******** Malama
Adamu how is UK and everything over there? Hope fine. I was about a read an article written by you on Malam Nuhu Ribadu but unfortunately the first paragraph indicated to me that you have not done your home work. For your information Nuhu is not the son of former minister Ribadu but of another person bearing the same name and from the same village Ribadu. please cross check your facts and correct accordingly. Iro Bala Abuja
I suggest after Obasanjo The Presidency should go to any of the following, El Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Mrs Okonjo Iweala or The NAFDAC Director. These are outstanding Nigerians.
NUHU HARUNA LONDON.
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Reply: I replied each individual but my general theme is: Thank you for the compliment. If we believe in a Country called Nigeria, we must support those who are working to change it for good. We are all suffering now for bad leaderships and corruption. Our young people are taking to 419 and robberry because of lost of hope. Should it be that way?
Abubakar Adamu.
I sincerely apologise for the error. It was an oversight reference from another link. The article I read seemed to connect the two Ribadus. I personally apologise to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for that wrong information about him. However, I do not apologise and standby all other opinions in the article. The characters, integrity and work ethics of both Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu are praiseworthy.
Any society riddles with corruption will not grow and develop because of the negative inference of corrupt practices. Corruption kills initiative and innovation. If an individual or a group who stand to fight the vices, they get the Lord’s blessing and people should give them encouragements, supports and pray for them.
A Good leader, act as a model of outstanding citizen and inspirational figure and guides individual and the community to grow. I draw my inspiration and personal development from many sources. Apart from my immediate family and friends, many other people influenced me and do not know their effect on me. I want to mention few people who guided me in my formative years: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe was the first book I have read complete and since then I have read most of Achebe’s books. Professor Chinua Achebe is therefore my literacy and literary influence. My interest in reading and writing was kindled by the works of Chinua Achebe. My spiritual development was nurtures by my local Islamic teacher (Malam Isa Oshafu) and Malam Lawal Kalarawi, a popular preacher from Kano for his simple and practical teachings. The fire-burning passion to fight and support human right is uplifts by Chief Gani Fawehinme’s Human Right Campaigns both legal and moral. My political awareness was initiated by listening to the Songs of Nigeria and Africa most popular artist, Fela Anikolakoputi. My educational development and continual learning was actualised because of good government policies and opportunities offered by good leaderships of Governor Joseph Gomwalk and Governor Solomon Lar of Plateau State, who awarded me scholarships for further studies.
People, who make a little difference to your life, should be the people one should admire and praise. The thieving politicians and government officials are not worth our adulation anymore. Why some people are fearful and scare of the name Nuhu Ribadu and the EFCC and cannot praise their work? Those who made their money in legitimate and through hard work should have no fear of the agents of EFCC. The intellectual giant of Nigeria and Africa, Professor Wole Soyinka, Alhaji Dangote, Nkene Dili Chukwu, and others are enriching and adding values to other people’s life. They may or may not be Obj friends, Ribadu will have no interest in their business because people are gaining from their given and sacrifices.
The corruption and indiscipline in Nigeria has been going on most of my childhood and now in my adult life. If we want a safer Country, we all have to aspires and work towards a fair and just society, wishing and praying for it is not enough. If we are waiting for our leaders to reform themselves, then we are part of the problem. The bad guys will not change easily, until he or she is named and shamed and also punish in equal measure. It is the case of good Cop and bad Cop, Mallam Ribadu is on the side of good guys to bring criminals to justice. Armed robbery, Political assassinations and civil rebellions are symptoms of people’s lost hope for the future. The murder of Engineer Funsho Williams, a governor aspirant of Lagos State is the continual political decays of competitive politics in Nigeria.
Chinua Achebe wrote in “Things Fall Apart” that, if bones are mention in a conversation, an old person feels uncomfortable. As was the case with the Hero of the book, Okonkwo, his father was considered an ‘efulefu’ (a Man without a title in Igbo community or a toothless old woman). Okonkwo grew up to be among the respected elders in and around Umuahia, his father’s past made him unease. So those baddies who have wasted the Country resources and undermines Nigeria development are unease with the activities of the EFCC. The EFCC project has the backing and supports of overseas governments and financial sectors, especially in the UK and the USA. I think some Nigerians are beginning to be bored, tired of the stigma that all Nigerians are corrupt and crooks. The majority of Nigerians are honest and hard working, they want to reclaim their dignity and self respect, the lawless and thieves must be dealt with by the law.
Whatever is the inequities and shortcoming of Obj government, the EFCC project should be allow evolving. I do not know the operative work of the EFCC agents. The Law says, a suspect is presuming innocent until proven guilty. I understand and share other people’s concern about our judiciary system; I think some of Nigeria judges are doing their best under the circumstances. So do not worry if you are not friendly with Obj, Ribadu and the EFCC agents, government fiancé is meant for the people, keep your hands off public money and you will not be bother by the Security Services. Collectively Nigerians must start to acknowledge those who are working for the good of the County and those working against the Country. They are starting again, ‘Interim Government’ plot. Leave Obasanjo alone, he is leaving Nigeria a legacy, it is left to those wishing to takeover the reign to give us their agenda or plot, not another diversion as the so-called ‘Third Term’ plot.
If Nigeria wants to be respected again and before investment come we must shade away the image of corruption and be trustworthy. Nigeria is a union of proud nations of rich cultures and diversity; we must retain our identity and individualism but work on what we have in common. What we all have in common are the basic necessity of life, welfare and wealth. It is now also poignant of lack of safety and security, armed robbers and mobs now rules. The Bible says: “The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lie with the Kids”
Abubakar Adamu is a Transport Logistician and Freelance Researcher.
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