Serving Nigeria – The Ribadu Experience

By

Aminu Muhammad OFS,

aminu10@yahoo.com

 

I remember asking My Father at the conclusion of my Secondary School about fifteen years ago if it’s wise to contemplate dying for the cause of Nigeria. Daddy, having served Nigeria then for about 30 Years as a Civil War Soldier gave several reasons why it may be wise and so many others why it may be extremely foolish to so think. As a growing adult then, I was totally passionate about Nigeria. I saw in me a burning desire to serve my father land at a great cost. I choose then to apply to join the military via the NDA and the experience is better left where it has been a decade and a half. But I refused to be discouraged. Having to struggle to get anything in a country where my father gave all he had, didn’t discourage me either.

 

Just about when I was considering dropping the idea of giving to Nigeria more than what my father gave her, a man called Nasir El-Rufai re-awaken in me that desire. During his days at Bureau of Public Enterprise, his dedication, intelligence and will-power performed the magic. I saw in El-Rufai a mentor. I saw in Him the future of a bastardized nation. I saw in him hope for a hopeless nation. I saw in him strong patriotism which greatly convinced me that Nigeria was moving away from the sad events of many years born out of ravenousness and wickedness. His zeal and intelligence re-engineered in me the passion to serve my country in any way possible. This I did by supporting passionately during the continuity bid of Obasanjo Government because of the believe that El-Rufai may be offered a better portfolio. Fortunately, that happened and El-Rufai never disappointed me. In a Nation of Political Gluttons like ours, it was astonishing how Nasir passionately touched those who hitherto believed they were untouchable.

 

My support for the re-election bid of Obasanjo got a lot of extras with the emergence of another young and fantastic young genius. In just about one year of his appointment, this young man ignited in many young Nigerians the passion to want a chance of serving Nigeria with all their Strength even when it was obvious that those in position of authority were stealing with extra strength. This young man did what nobody has been able to do in Nigeria, bringing fear to the corner of the Political Gluttons of Nigeria. The man was heading a newly born EFCC and his name is Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Though with his little shortcomings, Nuhu gave service a true meaning and to the admiration of every reasonable Nigeria, discharged his duty in a rather suicidal manner. Nuhu was always on the trail of the thieves who have always denied the ordinary Nigerian the rare benefit of a meaningful life while they steal more than they may ever need. Nuhu obviously faltered in the cause of his job but the truth is that all those he fought were proven rogues. Scoundrels proven by the only true court – court of the masses. Rascals who were by every standard opportunists. Convicts who dubiously found a way to the government house and all they spent their days doing was plan how our monthly allocation would be converted to currencies such as Dollars and Pounds while they spend their nights ensuring the converted funds are successfully exported and prostitutes are imported in the process. And at a point, every Nigerian was saying the only thing the Obasanjo Government did was establishing the EFCC and discovering Ribadu. As typical of every success story, the Atiku camp fought hard at a point to want to convince Nigerians that they introduced him (Ribadu) to Obasanjo. The truth is that when filtered, Ribadu did well, extremely well. He ensured that the dreaded rogues became so fearful.

 

Obviously, Ribadu forgot completely that this is still Nigeria. He fought so hard and passionately and in the process, he forgot completely that the R in Nigeria which stands for revenge & ridicule is still securely guided by NIGE to the left and IA to the right. At the end of the Obasanjo’s regime, expectations were high that those who became millionaires because they had the opportunity of stealing their way to Government houses will be called to question. His war against Thieves was considered selective but, one thing I always point out is the fact that all the persons he selected to fight were thieves. That Nuhu never fought any innocent person; gave every Nigerian the hope that more thieves will be humiliated. Looking at how his achievement as EFCC boss under Obasanjo helped make Yar’adua, hopes were high that the masses will have the privilege of watching the Executhieves pay for their wickedness against Nigerians. True to expectations, Ribadu didn’t disappoint. Within months, we saw Dariye in court. While watching, Nigerians saw a former Governor of a poverty striken state who had official cars running into hundreds of millions of Naira hold on to the Qur’an in the court room as if the clause which preached good and sincere governance was not in the Holy Book while he was Governor. Via the hard work and fearlessness of Ribadu, Nigerians saw that even a Governor can shed tears. The tears that many in his state were compelled by hunger and sickness to get accustomed to in the eight years he carelessly and wickedly looted the state. We were privilege to see Ribadu reveal how one Ebeano rogue converted the resources of his state to an estate development agency for himself. The Oil Sheik himself was forced by the zeal of a dogged Ribadu to also have a taste of “Everyday for the thief”. The Orji’s had their own taste of a patriotic Anti Corruption Czar. Many whom Ribadu had called by their real names, Thieves, Common thieves were about to taste the wrath of justice when one George Akume, himself a failed Governor found in our President a willing desire to stop this young man from destroying his former colleagues who contributed handsomely to the electoral success. While rejoicing about the revelations and the impact it was expected to have on the brand new governors, the Sarakis, Iboris, Odilis (who had to run to the court to purchase a power not to be arrested), Akumes, Udenwas, Yarimas (who Ribadu called an ordinary thief stealing with both hands, ironically a ‘distinguished’ member of the chamber where he was so accused), all went back to the drawing board and their communiqué read just one thing, Ribadu Must Be Humiliated.

 

All what they needed was to convince Mr. President. And doing so was like asking Obasanjo to clear his throat. It was well planned. Perfectly planned with the emergence of one Aoondoaka, a politically mysterious person who by all standard is a destructive master planner. They also found in one Mike Okiro, himself a product of political gangsterism the desire to humiliate Ribadu at all cost. The first plan was to publicly call him names and initiate media war with the young innocent patriotic Nigerian. It was clear that the Man Ribadu was on his way of the agency he brought candor to. The Presidents defence as feeble as it was in one of his media chat said Ribadu personalized EFCC. Very sad that a President could be so toiled with by the people he is suppose to have been elected to govern over. Nigerians needed no soothsayer to know that those who stole our common wealth nearly openly just won a battle to rub us all in the face with their God forsaken fortune. It was clear that those who stole our resources with clear act of wickedness have bought over justice. It was clear that the knowledge and pains of their stealing is about to be forgotten in a country where we forget with impunity. And the effect is that in this administration where nothing is happening, stealing act have been perfected. In this Nation where all the sectors require emergency, it has however been declared on honesty and patriotism.

 

Just when Nigerians were learning to get used to Ribadu’s removal and subsequent posting to Kuru for a SEC course. The Dons unveiled the second chapter of the humiliation book. He was stripped of the rank he got as a result of his patriotism and service to Nigeria. He had to relinquish the Rank given to Him by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. While Mike Okiro had to enjoy the benefit of his double promotion forgetting not a single digit percentage of Nigerians know how he merited such, Ribadu must relinquish his. A reward given to him for getting result where no body imagined must be declared illegal and he must relinquish it. Nobody however consider it necessary to return all the billions of dollars he got for Nigeria and her image back to where he got them from. Nobody imagined returning all the estates of the public thieves seized by Ribadu back to them. We forgot that the effort of Ribadu got us promotion on the list of TI. Ribadu got rewarded for fighting where even the strongest would not dare. The state rewarded him bringing honour and glory to her. Ribadu by every standard also brought glory to his constituency – The NPF. His intelligence and doggedness endeared him to the heart of all. He was able to scare all with his clear and dogged fight against criminals who cover themselves with well designed suits and Agbadas. In a callous manner, the state which gave him what he didn’t ask for now finds reasons to strip him of them. To the knowledge of all Nigerians, Ribadu didn’t work to be promoted. He worked for Nigeria to be cleansed and to a very great extent, he did well. The state realized and appreciated that fact and choose to promote him in appreciation of his strength and patriotism. It was done wrongly, I am sure it was not his fault and asking him to answer for the question he was not asked is by all estimation callous. Cruel as demoting him is, by not allowing him to graduate after doing well at NIPSS is heart breaking. It killed in me all the sense of patriotism. It murdered in me the believe that patriotism pays. It destroyed in me what many may call love for country. It battered in me the Hope for a better Nigeria. It only goes to tell Nigerians that Patriotism is the worst and most destructive virtue.

 

 

The unsuccessful attempt by the so called Senators to humiliate El-Rufai who obviously stepped on their toes and the unrelenting effort to destroy Nuhu Ribadu is the most wicked that a Nation should attempt on any body who served her with the zeal the two young men served Nigeria. I wish somebody will help tap Umar Musa Yar’adua and remind him that he is the President of Nigeria and nobody should be more powerful than him. I wish somebody will remind Turais husband that history will record it against him that his administration laid that foundation for the destruction and assassination of patriotism and dedication respectively. Its my desire that God will speak to Mr. President in his dreams and let him see the effect of the vindictiveness of these Vampires In Power (VIPs). I strongly pray somebody will convince President Umar that the acts of these wicked thieves will be recorded against his government after the expiration of his reign because no matter what, he will become history one day soon. Somebody should please tell Mr. President that no nation destroys her youths and prosper. Its enough for us that Mr. Yar’adua is not giving us the kind of governance we envisaged in 2007, destroying those who ignite in us a better future for the North in particular and Nigeria in General; is to say the least, CRUEL. Mr. President should be told how much effect the persecution of Nuhu Ribadu is having on the psyche of Nigeria youths. Somebody should tell Mr. President that it is his duty to protect all those who serve Nigeria as diligently as Ribadu unquestionably did. Mr. President must be told that the persecution of Nuhu will also impact directly on his much publicized efforts to transform Nigeria because no member of his team will be willing to diligently serve Nigeria. The truth is that since the wicked plot against Ribadu started, I have asked severally if Nigeria is worth serving (forget dying for). And I still ask, IS NIGERIA WORTH SERVING?

 

 

Aminu Muhammad OFS,

President, Confluence Peoples’ Progressive Association,