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The Trails of Brother Ribadu By Joshua Ocheja
The nation has been startled with the trails of our dear brother Ribadu in recent times. This calls for great concern and show of solidarity for the phenomena called Ribadu. Before now, one will be day dreaming thinking the hunter will become the hunted so soon. He towered like the rock of Gibraltar, he was appreciated and dreaded in some quarters, he was passionate about his job, and he thought Nigeria could be trusted! How time changes.
The pertinent question here is how did all go wrong in a jiffy for brother Ribadu? If you ask me I will say he was scapegoat of a (him). No doubt about his performances while at the helms of affairs at the nations anti corruption agency, by world standard he was fit to govern any country. But he goofed! Don’t ask me how? The paraphernalia of office blinded his sense of reasoning, taking into cognizance that Mankind is govern more by their feelings than by reason.
He fought a pragmatic anti corruption war that impressed his masters, resulting to his astronomical rise from the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police to a Commissioner and subsequently an Assistant Inspector General within a short span. Of course this caused ripples and it was believed in some quarters that he was been positioned to become the next Inspector General of Police, a dummy his masters sold to him. If he is not dismissed from service going by the avalanche of queries he has received, that dream might materialize.
In a commando fashion the Police Service Commission announced his demotion from the exalted rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police to a Deputy Commissioner of Police, the first in the annals of the country. What was the criterion used? The Police Service Commission did not sanction his promotion and it beached service procedures. The implication of the above is that all officers hitherto promoted should be demoted along with him. Its suffice to mention that Sir Michael Okiro, current Inspector General of Police was promoted from the rank of a Commissioner of Police to a Deputy Inspector General of Police. He skipped a rank. Ironically, the Police Service Commission approved his accelerated promotions.
Funny as it may sound, it was the same President that promoted Ribadu that promoted him Okiro. What makes it even messier was the fact that he the Inspector General of Police was promoted above and over his senior, Ogbonaya Onovo currently a Deputy Inspector General of police. Who are we deceiving in this country?
It’s pathetic that honorable members of the Police Service Commission could allow them selves to be used in settling personal and unethical scores. The implication of the above is that the current Inspector General of Police is not qualified to be the Inspector General for three reasons. One he skipped a rank, two; he was not the most senior police officer then and three, due process was not followed as at time of his promotion so in other word his promotion should be voided. Yes Michael Okiro benefited from a system that allows the President prerogative to reward gallant and exceptional officers by way of promotion to the next rank. Why should brother Ribadu’s case be different?
If you ask me what the brouhaha is all about? I will say it’s all about brother Ribadu’s guts! Certain cabals who felt humiliated or challenged by him in the discharge of his duties are bent on extracting their pond of flesh.
There is no moral justification as regard the manner which Ribadu is been treated. Sincerely we cannot make a head way as a nation when personal interest supersedes national interest. The President’s silence and attitude is annoying. We all know the reason for our brothers predicament, simply because he challenged the monster called corruption and in the process touching the celebrated untouchables.
This is clearly the effect of rigging elections in the country; I termed this fight against Ribadu the PDP’s fight. They alone know what they are up to. A critical look at all prosecuted in the fight against corruption reveals an identity exclusively PDP! This explains the President’s silence, because I cannot place the rationale behind his unholy silence.
This is sad for a country like Nigeria. What we are saying is that our country is not worth the struggles suffice to mention that Yar’Adua to an extent owe his ascension to the throne to Ribadu’s fight against corruption and tough stance that no corrupt person will rule Nigeria. That act of bravery paved the way for him to emerge the flag bearer of the PDP. Is this the price for dedication to duty and course for a better Nigeria?
This attitude portends grave implication in the future. Those at the fore front should realize that the youths are watching as events unfold. Who would want to serve this nation with zeal, when all you will get is humiliation from a bunch of anti progressives at the end of the day?
Its understandable that Ribadu took the anti corruption war to the extreme by disregarding court rulings in most cases, if we can be objective to his plight, the blame should not be heaped at his doorstep. The simple reason being that the courts dispense justice at a snail speed and in some cases susceptible to the caprices of (them) thereby hindering the job at hand.
Brother Ribadu painted the country’s image abroad in gold, respect came our way. With him it was bad business for scammers and corrupt government officials. My joy as it stands is that no form of corrupt practices can be tied to our dear brother.
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