July 12, 2010
Nuhu Ribadu is in the news again. The recent revelation that one of Nigeria’s political parties has adopted him as their presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2011 presidential elections swept through the Nigerian blog world like a Harmattan fire a few days ago. From those who will get a high from the mere mention of Nuhu Ribadu’s name to those who will get nauseated by it, it is a fierce struggle to establish why Nuhu Ribadu should or should not run for the presidency of Nigeria come 2011.
Nuhu Ribadu is in the news again. The recent revelation that one of Nigeria’s political parties has adopted him as their presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2011 presidential elections swept through the Nigerian blog world like a Harmattan fire a few days ago. From those who will get a high from the mere mention of Nuhu Ribadu’s name to those who will get nauseated by it, it is a fierce struggle to establish why Nuhu Ribadu should or should not run for the presidency of Nigeria come 2011.
While those on either side of the argument have presented and continue to present their arguments, there is a major fault in the arguments against Nuhu Ribadu’s possible bid for the presidency of Nigeria in 2011. That fault is the failure of his opponents to establish an unassailable case why he is not the best of all the pretenders to the throne called Nigeria’s presidency, come 2011. That list of pretenders includes incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. The needs of the country at this time are unique and they require unique experience and insight.
In the interest of fairness, I must point out that I am a supporter of a Nuhu Ribadu’s possible presidential bid and have publicly called on him to run for the presidency on this forum about two months ago (http://www.saharareporters.com/articles/external-contrib/6171-nuhu-ribadu-for-president-there-maybe-no-better-time-than-now-2011.html). So I have an interest in the ongoing debate.
As I have said hitherto, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is not a saint nor is the presidential election in Nigeria or any other country a search for a saint or a journey to sainthood. It should however be a search for the least evil minded devil. While serving as the chairman of EFCC I wrote several articles in which I accused Nuhu Ribadu of selective prosecution of the war against corruption. I thought he should have spoken less and punched more. I thought he could have charged the lawmakers who refused to impeach governors facing corruption charges overseas with corruption because they were actually corrupt and their reason for protecting the governors was simply because they had been bribed. This would have been a better option than appearing to “corner” the lawmakers into effecting impeachments that fell short of constitutional requirements. I thought he should have done more to attack systemic corruption in institutions like the NNPC, NEPA (PHCN), the National Assembly, Presidency and the banks. I continue to hold these views.
A sizeable number of Nigerians believe that former president Olusegun Obasanjo stole billions while in office, there is abundant evidence in support of that belief starting with the brand new hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, and Nuhu Ribadu’s claim to have carried out a thorough investigation of the former president does violence to his hard earned reputation as an international crime buster. I personally do not believe that he was granted access to the documents and file necessary to reach that conclusion. Despite public denials, Nigerians know that the presidency interferes with the work of the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies and they also understand the political dynamics at work. They know that Nuhu Ribadu could only do so much under a regime that claimed to be chasing criminals on one hand and looting the treasury on the other. Blaming his limitations, techniques and procedures on the political realities of the time would make more sense to intelligent Nigerians who admire and hold him in high-regard but are struggling to reconcile some of his statements and actions. Blaming the failure to charge Andy Uba with money laundering for the $250,000 transported to the United States aboard the presidential jet on the basis that Andy Uba was not in direct control of government cash is another one of those Nuhu Ribadu explanations that are difficult to rationalize even after scratching your head to the point where there is a big hole there: a prosecutor does not need to establish direct control of money or cash in order to secure conviction in a money-laundering case.
Having said all the above about Nuhu Ribadu, the son of Nigeria’s first defense minister, my views do not in any way denigrate from my admiration and respect for his boldness, sense of purpose, patriotism, dedication to the cause and near-perfect understanding that the woes currently bedeviling the country are the inevitable concomitants of corruption. Some of his modus operandi mentioned above may be a reflection of his not unreasonable belief that the problem confronting Nigeria is a serious one that does not allow for all the niceties the world can offer. Those who are holding the country hostage have declared the equivalent of a nuclear war on the nation and those who intend to challenge them cannot be firing from Double-Barrel guns. Every war, including Nigeria’s war on corruption, comes with collateral damages. The always regrettable loss of civilian lives has not stopped the United States from launching drones in Iraq and Afghanistan. I do not advocate flagrant disregard for the rights of accused persons, but the fear of errors should not be an excuse for inaction. As long as the accused persons are not being sentenced to death, there will always be an opportunity to address and compensate for errors.
His possible presidential candidacy should be assessed in the context of the problems facing the country. There is a general agreement that the main problem with Nigeria is corruption. The late president Yar Adua said almost every Nigerian is corrupt, although I thought that statement was hyperbolic. The current president Goodluck Jonathan is on record as saying the main problem confronting the country is corruption, hence his promise to re-invigorate the war against corruption. Whatever that means to him. If we are in agreement that Nigeria’s main problem is corruption then who is the best candidate to confront the problem? A candidate who already knows the ins and outs of the biggest problem confronting the nation or one who is requesting on-the-job training? This is the question Nigerians have to answer. Come the presidential election, Nigerians must make a choice and that choice is not between God and Devil. An election is a choice between the devil and the younger brother/sister.
Some followers of developments around Nuhu Ribadu’s possible presidential bid say this is not the right time for him to run for the presidency but others, including myself, ask “why not now?” Some want him to work with incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and prepare for 2015 or 2019. Those who do not want Nuhu Ribadu to confront Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 have failed to advance a serious argument as to why a man who sees it fit to honor people like Patricia Etteh, a Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko who cannot explain where he got his secondary, bachelor’s and graduate certificates from and the Inspector General of a Police force that has become a bigger threat to the security of Nigerians than criminals should be given another chance. He should know that Nigerians have suffered long enough and are running out of patience. Goodluck Jonathan may need time to fix NNPC, NEPA and some other more serious problems, but he does not need time to understand that you do not honor individuals who have clouds of corruption, incompetence and forgery hanging over their heads. He does not need time to understand that you do not spend N10 billion celebrating an event that serves as the clearest signpost of how far the country has traveled in the wrong direction.
Some say Nuhu Ribadu should not run for the presidency now because Goodluck Jonathan will ensure that he is charged with one offense or the other in order to stop him. Ignore the possibility and inappropriateness of the president using his powers in this manner for a moment. If they are going to lay charges against Nuhu Ribadu in order to stop him from seeking the presidency, does it not tell us how much confidence Goodluck Jonathan and his supporters have in their ability to win the 2011 elections fair and square? If they want to start throwing mud, is there anyone in Nigeria who knows more about the dirty secrets of our politicians than Nuhu Ribadu?
The presidency belongs to Nigerians. It is not for the looters to allocate among themselves as they see fit. Ideally, any person seeking that position should be seeking the consent of the people through their votes. If a candidate’s only claim to the presidency is his/her ability to dispense patronage and befriend the sleaziest people in the land, then that candidate has no business seeking the presidency of Nigeria. In spite of Nuhu Ribadu’s imperfections, supporters of Goodluck Jonathan must advance a credible case as to why Goodluck Jonathan will be a better choice for Nigeria and Nigerians. They must explain to Nigerians why Goodluck Jonathan’s imperfections should be ignored and Nuhu Ribadu politically asphyxiated for his. Both of them have had the chance to serve the country and ordinary Nigerians know what their records are and the one who is more likely to make life easier for them. Rather than fear it, Goodluck Jonathan should encourage a Nuhu Ribadu presidential bid because his participation will bestow on the race a level of credibility that no other candidate can bring. With Nuhu Ribadu in the race, it will really start to look like a race rather than a coronation. The candidates will have to vigorously discuss the issues and explain why they should be voted for. Hopefully, it will also put an end to the noise about zoning that even a Vuvuzela cannot drown out.
If corruption is the main problem confronting the country why elect a man or a woman who will spend years “investigating” or “ re-investigating” Halliburton and Siemens when Nuhu Ribadu already has hundreds of files on looters who could be charged a minute after taking his presidential oath of office at Eagle Square? It may that Goodluck Jonathan needs time to understand the intricacies of corruption but Nigerians are not bound to grant his request. The Nigerian people have been too patient and should be able to vote Nuhu Ribadu into office if that is their choice. Neither Nuhu Ribadu nor Goodluck Jonathan has an automatic right to the presidency but they both have the right to seek it while ordinary Nigerians decide who gets it. Ordinarily, this should not cause anyone sleepless nights. Goodluck Jonathan has said the elections will be free and fair and I also hope he will add “may the best man or woman win”
Those who support Nuhu Ribadu for the presidency, including myself, are not do or die supporters of his. They are rational human beings seeking to optimize the return on their investment. Their investment in this case is Nuhu Ribadu and the return they seek will be for him to dedicate all his efforts and the entire resources of the country to launch her on the part to economic, political and social recovery. A president, who will work day and night to see emerge from the current smoldering ashes, a nation that will be the true giant of Africa and the symbol of hope and inspiration to not only to its citizens, but the entire black race. Not contracts please. I believe many of them will also be willing to re-consider their support for Nuhu Ribadu if a better candidate shows up. I make no decision whether he is better or not, but one person who may force such a reconsideration could be retired Col. Abubakar Umar. For now, it is Nuhu Ribadu for 2011, despite his imperfections.
While those on either side of the argument have presented and continue to present their arguments, there is a major fault in the arguments against Nuhu Ribadu’s possible bid for the presidency of Nigeria in 2011. That fault is the failure of his opponents to establish an unassailable case why he is not the best of all the pretenders to the throne called Nigeria’s presidency, come 2011. That list of pretenders includes incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. The needs of the country at this time are unique and they require unique experience and insight.
In the interest of fairness, I must point out that I am a supporter of a Nuhu Ribadu’s possible presidential bid and have publicly called on him to run for the presidency on this forum about two months ago (http://www.saharareporters.com/articles/external-contrib/6171-nuhu-ribadu-for-president-there-maybe-no-better-time-than-now-2011.html). So I have an interest in the ongoing debate.
As I have said hitherto, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is not a saint nor is the presidential election in Nigeria or any other country a search for a saint or a journey to sainthood. It should however be a search for the least evil minded devil. While serving as the chairman of EFCC I wrote several articles in which I accused Nuhu Ribadu of selective prosecution of the war against corruption. I thought he should have spoken less and punched more. I thought he could have charged the lawmakers who refused to impeach governors facing corruption charges overseas with corruption because they were actually corrupt and their reason for protecting the governors was simply because they had been bribed. This would have been a better option than appearing to “corner” the lawmakers into effecting impeachments that fell short of constitutional requirements. I thought he should have done more to attack systemic corruption in institutions like the NNPC, NEPA (PHCN), the National Assembly, Presidency and the banks. I continue to hold these views.
A sizeable number of Nigerians believe that former president Olusegun Obasanjo stole billions while in office, there is abundant evidence in support of that belief starting with the brand new hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, and Nuhu Ribadu’s claim to have carried out a thorough investigation of the former president does violence to his hard earned reputation as an international crime buster. I personally do not believe that he was granted access to the documents and file necessary to reach that conclusion. Despite public denials, Nigerians know that the presidency interferes with the work of the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies and they also understand the political dynamics at work. They know that Nuhu Ribadu could only do so much under a regime that claimed to be chasing criminals on one hand and looting the treasury on the other. Blaming his limitations, techniques and procedures on the political realities of the time would make more sense to intelligent Nigerians who admire and hold him in high-regard but are struggling to reconcile some of his statements and actions. Blaming the failure to charge Andy Uba with money laundering for the $250,000 transported to the United States aboard the presidential jet on the basis that Andy Uba was not in direct control of government cash is another one of those Nuhu Ribadu explanations that are difficult to rationalize even after scratching your head to the point where there is a big hole there: a prosecutor does not need to establish direct control of money or cash in order to secure conviction in a money-laundering case.
Having said all the above about Nuhu Ribadu, the son of Nigeria’s first defense minister, my views do not in any way denigrate from my admiration and respect for his boldness, sense of purpose, patriotism, dedication to the cause and near-perfect understanding that the woes currently bedeviling the country are the inevitable concomitants of corruption. Some of his modus operandi mentioned above may be a reflection of his not unreasonable belief that the problem confronting Nigeria is a serious one that does not allow for all the niceties the world can offer. Those who are holding the country hostage have declared the equivalent of a nuclear war on the nation and those who intend to challenge them cannot be firing from Double-Barrel guns. Every war, including Nigeria’s war on corruption, comes with collateral damages. The always regrettable loss of civilian lives has not stopped the United States from launching drones in Iraq and Afghanistan. I do not advocate flagrant disregard for the rights of accused persons, but the fear of errors should not be an excuse for inaction. As long as the accused persons are not being sentenced to death, there will always be an opportunity to address and compensate for errors.
His possible presidential candidacy should be assessed in the context of the problems facing the country. There is a general agreement that the main problem with Nigeria is corruption. The late president Yar Adua said almost every Nigerian is corrupt, although I thought that statement was hyperbolic. The current president Goodluck Jonathan is on record as saying the main problem confronting the country is corruption, hence his promise to re-invigorate the war against corruption. Whatever that means to him. If we are in agreement that Nigeria’s main problem is corruption then who is the best candidate to confront the problem? A candidate who already knows the ins and outs of the biggest problem confronting the nation or one who is requesting on-the-job training? This is the question Nigerians have to answer. Come the presidential election, Nigerians must make a choice and that choice is not between God and Devil. An election is a choice between the devil and the younger brother/sister.
Some followers of developments around Nuhu Ribadu’s possible presidential bid say this is not the right time for him to run for the presidency but others, including myself, ask “why not now?” Some want him to work with incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and prepare for 2015 or 2019. Those who do not want Nuhu Ribadu to confront Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 have failed to advance a serious argument as to why a man who sees it fit to honor people like Patricia Etteh, a Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko who cannot explain where he got his secondary, bachelor’s and graduate certificates from and the Inspector General of a Police force that has become a bigger threat to the security of Nigerians than criminals should be given another chance. He should know that Nigerians have suffered long enough and are running out of patience. Goodluck Jonathan may need time to fix NNPC, NEPA and some other more serious problems, but he does not need time to understand that you do not honor individuals who have clouds of corruption, incompetence and forgery hanging over their heads. He does not need time to understand that you do not spend N10 billion celebrating an event that serves as the clearest signpost of how far the country has traveled in the wrong direction.
Some say Nuhu Ribadu should not run for the presidency now because Goodluck Jonathan will ensure that he is charged with one offense or the other in order to stop him. Ignore the possibility and inappropriateness of the president using his powers in this manner for a moment. If they are going to lay charges against Nuhu Ribadu in order to stop him from seeking the presidency, does it not tell us how much confidence Goodluck Jonathan and his supporters have in their ability to win the 2011 elections fair and square? If they want to start throwing mud, is there anyone in Nigeria who knows more about the dirty secrets of our politicians than Nuhu Ribadu?
The presidency belongs to Nigerians. It is not for the looters to allocate among themselves as they see fit. Ideally, any person seeking that position should be seeking the consent of the people through their votes. If a candidate’s only claim to the presidency is his/her ability to dispense patronage and befriend the sleaziest people in the land, then that candidate has no business seeking the presidency of Nigeria. In spite of Nuhu Ribadu’s imperfections, supporters of Goodluck Jonathan must advance a credible case as to why Goodluck Jonathan will be a better choice for Nigeria and Nigerians. They must explain to Nigerians why Goodluck Jonathan’s imperfections should be ignored and Nuhu Ribadu politically asphyxiated for his. Both of them have had the chance to serve the country and ordinary Nigerians know what their records are and the one who is more likely to make life easier for them. Rather than fear it, Goodluck Jonathan should encourage a Nuhu Ribadu presidential bid because his participation will bestow on the race a level of credibility that no other candidate can bring. With Nuhu Ribadu in the race, it will really start to look like a race rather than a coronation. The candidates will have to vigorously discuss the issues and explain why they should be voted for. Hopefully, it will also put an end to the noise about zoning that even a Vuvuzela cannot drown out.
If corruption is the main problem confronting the country why elect a man or a woman who will spend years “investigating” or “ re-investigating” Halliburton and Siemens when Nuhu Ribadu already has hundreds of files on looters who could be charged a minute after taking his presidential oath of office at Eagle Square? It may that Goodluck Jonathan needs time to understand the intricacies of corruption but Nigerians are not bound to grant his request. The Nigerian people have been too patient and should be able to vote Nuhu Ribadu into office if that is their choice. Neither Nuhu Ribadu nor Goodluck Jonathan has an automatic right to the presidency but they both have the right to seek it while ordinary Nigerians decide who gets it. Ordinarily, this should not cause anyone sleepless nights. Goodluck Jonathan has said the elections will be free and fair and I also hope he will add “may the best man or woman win”
Those who support Nuhu Ribadu for the presidency, including myself, are not do or die supporters of his. They are rational human beings seeking to optimize the return on their investment. Their investment in this case is Nuhu Ribadu and the return they seek will be for him to dedicate all his efforts and the entire resources of the country to launch her on the part to economic, political and social recovery. A president, who will work day and night to see emerge from the current smoldering ashes, a nation that will be the true giant of Africa and the symbol of hope and inspiration to not only to its citizens, but the entire black race. Not contracts please. I believe many of them will also be willing to re-consider their support for Nuhu Ribadu if a better candidate shows up. I make no decision whether he is better or not, but one person who may force such a reconsideration could be retired Col. Abubakar Umar. For now, it is Nuhu Ribadu for 2011, despite his imperfections.
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