Adamawa Governorhip Poll: Ribadu And His Familiar Steps

By: Senior Fyneface
When Mallam Nuhu Ribadu described his move from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP) as a carefully considered decision, he was very correct. However, without doubt, many Nigerians absolutely missed the issues on the decamping of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections.
As said by an analyst, the issue is not about decamping, or about freedom to choose, or the freedom to express oneself, or even about a culture defined by personality differences. An individual is defined by his/her principles. On what principle can you define Ribadu?
How do you reconcile that Ribadu, a card carrying member of the ACN (part of the current APC) could accept the assignment given him by the leader of the PDP to chair the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Committee? He smartly deceived Nigerians that his agreeing to do the job was solely predicated on his patriotic intents and desire to pursue anti-corruption cases with a view to exposing the culprits. But this was a very big lie because the assignment was given him as part of the rehabilitation programme by President Goodluck Jonathan after he was thoroughly messed up and abandoned by Tinubu and his folks in the 2011 presidential election.
Hear how Ribadu defines the APC, a group part of which he led into the 2011 presidential election: They are a party of traders and desperads for power at all cost. Im a young man and age is still on my side. I will not allow anyone to trade with me, for the second time.
It was wrong for Gov Rabiu Kwankwaso to describe my decision to join the PDP as a betrayal, because I consulted widely. The truth is that, the APC ds not have what it takes to change Nigeria and any ambition driven by grievance, bitterness and vendetta cannot be said to possess any element of change. And it is only a matter of time and Nigerians will know who truly loves them.
I think the APC would have done well without the aggrieved PDP governors. With due respect to governor Amaechi, he is simply hungry for power and do not know how to go about it, except with money.
I may not know how to become the President of Nigeria, but I know it never for the highest bidder and it never up for sale. It an undeniable fact that President Jonathan has done well for Nigeria in such a very short time, and I think he is the answer to the prayer of many Nigerians. I must not be President, but I have vowed to support anyone who shares the same vision I have for Nigeria. And take it from me President Jonathan has surpassed my vision for Nigeria.
And then barely 24 hours from the above statement, he posited this on his facebook page: Let me quickly make it known that I did not issue a statement disparaging APC and its members, including Governors Amaechi, Kwankwaso¦These were clearly fabricated and expected backlash by mischievous characters interested in misleading the public and drawing a picture of non-existent feuds between me and my good friends.
My defection shouldnt be seen as an initiation of political antagonism with my good friends in another party. I still hold them in high esteem, and even where there are marked differences, I believe there are decorous and honourable ways of resolving them. So, kindly disregard any statement said to be by me attacking the personality of any politician since my defection. Ill never allow myself to be drawn into such disrespectful exchange.
This man has not changed at all. As the Chairman of the EFCC, he talked from both sides of his mouth using his own hands to rubbish whatever good he tried to achieve at the commission. He was asked to go back to school at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPS) rather he preferred to wage a war of dirty words with his predecessor, Mrs Farida Waziri. He was even accused of not handing over most of the sensitive case files to the person that took over from him. As the ACN presidential candidate, he created more problems for the party when he discovered that his deceived and traded with him. As the chairman of the oil revenue task force, he openly fought with Steve Oronsaya in the presence of the President. What was the quarrel? Was it not that Ribadu cannot humble himself to work as a team player?
So why should it surprise anybody that the Action Congress presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections has eaten his words and joined the ruling PDP, a Party he once called a failed party that has nothing to offer and that it has only brought despair to Nigerians in 13 years of its lacklustre rule. So anybody expressing surprise over Ribadu recent change of political camp should better be advised to look at his antecedents.
As the chairman of both the EFCC and the oil revenue taskforce, did Ribadu not display a tendency to be an autocrat, ready to bend the rules to suit his will, rather than follow the rule of law. For example, he was ready to bar politicians from running for office based only on his own indictments, against the dictates of the constitution. He single-handedly submitted the oil revenue taskforce team report on the ground that Orosonya was sabotaging the exercise. Has anything ever been heard of that report since Ribadu messed it up before the President?
This drive to get his own way, rather than follow due process, may indeed be the reason Mallam Ribadu choose to join the PDP and enjoy federal might and support, rather than build his support from the grassroots.
(SENIOR FYNEFACE: ELELEWON STREET GRA II, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; senior_fyneface@yahoo.com)