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Nuhu Ribadu's Removal: So What? By Usman Garba Santuraki
The recent removal of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, as the Chairman of the EFCC was long expected. It is expected, because the guy fall short of expectation of what he ought to do when he was appointed five years ago by the government of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Infact, I was one of the people, that greeted his
appointment with enthusiasm with the hope, that he is
the right person for the job going by his antecedents
as a socialist, which he portray during his school
days at Yelwa Government Secondary School Yola and
later, at the College of Preliminary Studies also in
Yola.
Nuhu Ribadu in the early days of his assumption of
office, as the Chairman gave the impression that he is
going to work for the overall interest of this country
with the fear of God. But, along the line, presumably
when his mentor the then President Obasanjo, indicated
interest to have a shot for the third term through manipulations, Nuhu
Ribadu started to exhibit attitudes that run contrary to what was really
expected of him, that he is going to do his work with the utmost fear of
God. More importantly, he derailed from doing the work expected of him by
doing all, he can do within the confine of the law of the land. He went on
berserk intimidating all those, he perceived as an obstacle on the way,
for his mentor to be the President for the third term. Two of the people,
that received the greatest humiliation of their life from Nuhu Ribadu were
the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who come from the same state with
Nuhu Ribadu and who, played a major role in his appointment as the
Chairman of the EFCC and the former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi
Bababgida whose son, Mohammed was once arrested by the EFCC-infact, Nuhu
Ribadu some time ago, dispute the claims, that Atiku was behind his
appointment as the Chairman of the EFCC. Nuhu Ribadu, because of this
thankless job, had to part way with some of his childhood friends like
Alhaji Lawal Bello Namtari former Chairman of Mtel, Alhaji Musa Garba a
Yola based businessman, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Danjuma
Ibrahim and a host of others.
There is a saying in Hausa that says " Komin
nisan jifa sai ya dawo kasa" literally means no matter how high you threw
a stone, it must surely come down. Today, Nuhu Ribadu was removed as the
Chairman of the EFCC against his wish and desire. What people failed to
understand is the fact, that Nuhu Ribadu is still a serving Police Officer
and the Inspector-General of Police as the head of the Police can deploy
his officer anywhere, he desires. Nuhu Ribadu is therefore, quite a
surbodinate officer to the Inspector-General of Police and therefore,
answerable to him. The point is that, there are some people out there,
that can do even much more better than Nuhu Ribadu and who can competently
hold the office of the Chairman of EFCC. Honestly speaking, Nuhu Ribadu
was selective in the persecution of people. If not, why didn't he
prosecute or order for full scale investigation into the allegation of
fraud and 419 committed by Iyabo Obasanjo the daughter of the former
President now, a serving Senator when the Austrian company write a
petition to the EFCC in 2006? Why swept it under the carpet? or with the
damning evidences of corruption perpetrated by Chief Bode George as the
NPA Chairman? What is really annoying was Nuhu's non-challant attitude
towards obeying court orders.
I was surprise, that as a learned person, Nuhu could not complied with court order twice to returned to the
Gubernatorial Candidate of Action Congress in the April, 2007 election
Alhaji Ibrahim Bapetel his property impounded by the EFCC about two yeats
ago. One thing, that Nuhu failed to realised was that power and holding
position of authority is transient-which is a great pity indeed. Nuhu
Ribadu should as a matter of consolation accept what befall him as what
was destined to happened. He is still young to pursue his career in the
Nigeria Police and the present government of President Umaru Yar'adua is
quite grateful for the little effort, he made to the country. If not, he
could have been fired. Rather, than Nigerians be making noise over the
removal of Nuhu Ribadu as the Chairman of the EFCC, the best thing that
people would do at this material time, was to proffer solutions to the
myraid of problems of corruption in the country. Nuhu Ribadu was just one
single individual among the medley of Nigerians. Therefore, to just waste
time in discussing the removal of an individaul does not portend good for
the country and the generations coming behind. The removal of Nuhu to this
writer, and that of many Nigerians does not warrant any media hype as to
why he was removed. One thing, is that Nuhu is a public servant working
for the people and the country as a whole. He is being paid from the
public coffer. It is the peroragative of those, who are his paymasters to
send anywhere, they deem fit to send him.
Infact, sending to NIPSS in Kuru
near Jos is really for his own good and at the same time increase his
proficiency in his working life with the Nigeria Police Force. No doubt,
that Nuhu Ribadu has done his best in the fight against corruption and it
is also proper to accord him a place as one of the Nigerians, that has
done wonderfully well for his people and country, when he was given the
opportunity to served. This writer has a tremendous respect for the late,
Ahmadu Ribadu's family especially the present head of the family. But, the
facts has to be stated to set the records straight for people to know. May
God continue to guide our leaders to trade the right path and that of
honour which even if, they left office, people would profoundly remembered
them and the good thing(s) they have done.
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