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Yar’adua Taken: Babangida Championed Ribadu’s Exit

Farouk Martins Aresa

Well, it was not exactly what Babangida and his cohorts wanted from Yar’Adua, they were met half way. You would not want to know what they wish for Ribadu. I think Ribadu should thank his star, it could have been worse. Look at what happened in Pakistan to Benazir Bhutto, we can not compare it to what happened to Murtala Muhammed in Nigeria. Bhutto wanted power because she actually believed that she had the support of the super powers like Moshoodi Abiola thought.

In the case of Murtala Muhamed, he renounced his past and decided to clean up Nigeria. How long did he last? So who does Ribadu think he is? He is lucky he got off by a mere redeployment to Jos for a course he wished he had taken during the time of Obasanjo to be eligible as the Chief of Police. He will no longer be entitled to all the security he has as EFCC boss. That is the real problem. Are they out to get him?

Ribadu made many enemies. That he went after Babangida’s son, and humiliated Tafa Balogun, lined up the former police bosses against him. Indeed, Okiro made sure Ribadu did not investigate his predecessor, Ehindero. Who knows, he may have “intelligence report” that Ribadu might come after him too. So Babangida, who has free access to Yar’Adua was only too happy to oblige and champion their plan.

Yar’Adua, let me warn you. No head of State tolerates or accommodates Babangida and survive. It does not make sense. The only reason Abacha was able to rule, and rule as long as he did, was because he caged Babangida. In spite of the fact the he claims he knows Nigeria and Nigerians more, Abacha kept him in his cage. He was smart enough not to dare Abacha. Babangida will overshadow you.

Obasanjo, every dog has its day, never trusted Babangida either, because he knows him well. When he was in power, Babangida never fails to refer to him as his boss. What does he call him now? Moreover, the only reason Ribadu swore that he will never become the next head of state was because Obasanjo agreed. So Obasanjo defined the limit of Babangida among the polity. All the balloons and kites he flew to succeed Obasanjo failed because that was the way Obasanjo wanted it.

Danjuma still does not know how Babangida allowed Dimka to escape at the Radio station after Muhammed was assassinated. He changes his loyalty fast for self survival and he had no problem saying it. That was why it was either him or his childhood best friend Maman Vasta whom he refused to pardon. It has nothing to do with grace, it has to do with his military instinct.

Yar’Adua, I do not know what makes you think you can rehabilitate Babangida by giving him the head of Ribadu on a silver platter. As much as everyone prayed that this present Government succeeds, the line on the horizon is cloudy. The first shot was appointing the legal defender of rogues and common thieves called governors as the Attorney General of the Federation. So far he has lived up to his reputation and he continues to defend them, not as a private attorney but as the attorney General under the banner of due process.

There are many ways to skin a cat; the EFCC has been gradually emasculated. If the intention of this Government is to continue the fight against corruption and widens its net to catch all those Obasanjo and the Forty Thieves, this is not the way to go about it. Each time we make any progress by one step in our Country, we move two or three steps back. Consequently, we are stuck in a violent wave in the ocean wondering if we will ever see the dry shore.

A country that glorifies its economic vultures and saboteurs can never prosper but Nigeria must prosper in our life time. There is no more time to waste, no more generation to wait for, it must happen now. If this Government refuses to lead, and prefers past failed experimental leaders, to drag us into obscurity, Nigeria will go into revolution.

So far, our internal struggle has not taken us to the carnage in Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan judiciary or Czechoslovakia, and there is no need to go there. Out of all those who via for election, many Nigerians still prefer Umaru Yar’Adua as the least of all the (d)evils. If you decide to relegate your duties by default into the hands of skillful manipulators, your own brother will not forgive you. These are the same people who watched or deserted as Shehu Musa Yar’Adua met his untimely death.

Nigerians are carrying for solutions that can be brought about by dedicated people who are living in Nigeria but will never be given the chance to make a difference. It does not cost money, material and foreign import. It takes policy decisions to stamp out corruption. If people like Ribadu were planted in every state and in every agency, we will not have to cry about one Ribadu in EFCC.

Which symbol is more important to Nigerians at this moment? The symbol that looters can not go scoot free without being chased to their dens or the symbol that the chasers can easily be disposed of. Putting out the symbol of hope that the face of corruption chaser is different from that of the dog catcher is important in a society endemic with self aggrandizement and shallow adulation.

If our leaders can not embark on a complex project without over-bloated contracts and bids by cronies, at least they can make simple policy decisions that many Nigerians can be proud of. Our short sightedness, greed and loss of communal responsibilities have eaten up that part of our brain that makes decisions for future generation.