Ribadu

Ribadu’s Dismissal: The PSC Is Right

Abdu Isa Kofarmata

29^th December, 2008

Self-Conceit May Lead To Self-Destruction-- Aesop, On Egotism

When the dismissed DCP Nuhu Ribadu was at his peak during the dictatorial regime of Olusegun Obasanjo, he arrogated to himself the master of all. Common sense was completely lacking in the way and manner Mr. Ribadu conducted himself and the affairs of the commission he was heading, the EFCC. Tryon Edwards opined that, common sense is, of all kinds, the most uncommon. It implies good judgment, sound discretion, and true and practical wisdom applied to common sense. This negates the opinion of Voltaire, who suggested that common sense is not so common.

Ribadu as many people belief is the architect of his travail, his overzealousness and arrogant posture contributed immensely to his present predicament. The few that continue to make noise about his rightful dismissal belong to the protected group of Ribadu’s EFCC, or the remnant of Obasanjo beneficiaries.

From the inception of EFCC, I authored more than ten different articles on the commission and its chairman; I was also privileged to participate in the BBC Hausa phone in programme with Ribadu. In all these situations and opportunity I advised Ribadu on three basic things. One, he should not allow Obasanjo to use him, as he (obasanjo) will not come to his recue or protection in the event the worst happened as in his current travail. Two, he should be fair in arrest and prosecution, that is to say, selective arrest and prosecution of the perceived political enemies of Obasanjo should be stopped and redress. Three, he should as a public servant (police officer for that matter) not participate or allowed to be drag into the dirty waters of Nigerian politics.

At last, Ribadu deliberately refuse to heed to our sincere and clarion calls. Ribadu sunk himself deep into politics and register his membership with Obasanjo faction of the PDP.

It may interest the reader to know clearly where Ribadu goofed. Mr. Ribadu appointed himself as the chief electoral officer by screening candidates to contest election, even though that function is not containing in the EFCC Act. To further abuse our intelligent, he selectively screened some Obasanjo’s enemies out and allows crooks and suspect to contest for various posts in 2007. For instance, one Dr. Garba Matazu, a federal legislature from Katsina, who was then the chairman house committee on education was involved in the scandal which led to the resignation and prosecution of the former senate president, Wabara, it also led to the removal and prosecution of Professor Fabian Osuji of the then Education ministry, was allowed to contest for the same election though he was awaiting trial for the corruption charges at the Abuja High court.

Mr. Ribadu was blinded with power, when he swears to God about the corruption allegation leveled against the former NPA chairman Bode George. He was emphatic and confident that he has not seen anything incriminating against the former PDP leader. Now over 156 charges were initiated against Bode George, what a lie?

Mrs. Mobolaji Osumo, former minister of housing was unjustly removed from office and prosecuted for offences committed by Obasnjo’s family and friends. Ribadu could not trace and arrest the members of Stella Obasanjo’s family that paid billions of naira for the Ikoyi housing robbery. Many public officers then were involved in the housing robbery but he turned his face away and pretended not to know what was happening.

At the time El’Rufai and Jimi Lawal were selling confiscated properties and exporting the proceeds abroad Ribadu could not see anything wrong. Ribadu was busy arresting a local government chairman and commissioners in Adamawa for building a four-bed room flat in Mubi. Though we detested anything corruption and its ramification, we belief that what happened during impeachment and arrest of Alammeseigha in Bayelsa state violate the constitution and negated all the principles of civilized society. The legislatures that Ribadu often refer to as bunch of thieves, and were the centre of his atrocities and arrest, have now become the rallying point for him to get justice from the police. Similarly, the courts which Ribadu ignored severally have now become the only cover for Ribadu. We can recall clearly, how EFFC was turn into state houses of assembly, where members are arrested, intimidated and harassed in order to impeach their governor. I am optimistic that should Peter Odilli, Ahmed Makarfi, Abdullahi Adamu etc opposes Obasanjo third term or camped with Atiku Abubakar in 2007, they would have suffer the same fate as Governor Dariye, Alameseigha and James Ibori.

It is our belief that should former governor Alameseigha, Tafa Balogun, Orji Kalu succumbed to Obasanjo pressure and submitted to his will and authority with undivided loyalty, Ribadu would not have harassed or intimidated them. Few questions can help us perfect out lenses on this man Ribadu. Was Ribadu not aware when Andy Ubah declares more than a trillion naira in his assets declaration form before he contested for gubernatorial election in Anambra? Was Ribadu not aware of the candidature of the current Cross Rivers governor, Liyel Imoke in 2007?

Now to the police decision, the decision of police service commission PSC to dismiss Ribadu is in order and a courageous decision for that matter. He should as well be arrested and prosecuted for his actions and inactions of issues which require his actions or inactions but deliberately chooses to ignore or pretended not to know. He should in addition to other charges leveled against him by the PSC, be prosecuted for jeopardizing our chance of getting rid of corruption in Nigeria. Stringent punishment for Ribadu will serve as deterrent to current and future public office holders against overzealousness, arrogance and bias in the discharge of their duties.