Nuhu Ribadu: To be or not to be, a report by Next investigation.
Nuhu Ribadu
Ahead of an active political campaign season for the 2011 general elections, the presumed presidential candidacy of Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s former anti-corruption czar, is raising more than a few eyebrows across the political landscape, NEXT investigations in Abuja and Lagos, found at the weekend.
Mr. Ribadu who was widely thought to be slated for office as special adviser, on anti-corruption and good governance, in the administration of President Goodluck, has lately been mentioned as a likely candidate in the presidential race, and on the ticket of as many as four political parties in the country today.
Presidency sources disclosed that the initial hint of a job as a presidential aide for Mr. Ribadu sent powerful and entrenched forces in the land rallied round to put paid to the matter. As Mr. Jonathan dithered, our source said the former anti-corruption czar pursued other career options stoked by multiple political actors and parties who descended on him in his temporary home in the United States urging him to give the presidential race a shot.
Mr. Ribadu’s aides declined any comment last week, generally agreeing that while their boss is “on the lips of many of the parties” nothing has been concluded regarding his political future or which of the horses he might ride.
A July 9 NEXT report, hinted that the Action Congress [AC] was considering a new generation of youthful leaders with proven public service credentials, and favours Mr. Ribadu, to carry the party flag into the 2011 campaign.
At the weekend, Lai Mohammed, the chief spokesman for the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] attempted to deflect the growing media beam on Mr. Ribadu, claiming that “Nuhu Ribadu is not even a registered member of the party, so how can we be considering him for the party position?” Congress sources hinted at a secret group attack on Mr. Ribadu’s political profile, led by former foreign affairs minister under the Abacha administration, Tom Ikimi.
Mr. Mohammed dispelled the Ikimi challenge on the same ground, saying “how can Tom Ikimi be leading a challenge against Ribadu when he, Ribadu, is not a registered party member as of today?” However, a source within the party who asked not to be named said Mr. Ikimi led a protest against Mr. Ribadu’s putative presidential candidacy, suggesting that it was undemocratic to hand over the party ticket to someone without going through a party primary process.” Party sources told NEXT that the Ikimi opposition, a fringe voice in the party now, may not be unconnected with his wish to re-assert himself within the party.
Mr. Ribadu was travelling in Yola, his town, to meet with family members, and could not respond to NEXT enquiries according to his aides on Saturday, who added however that they agree that opposition from political old horses like Mr. Ikimi point to “the exciting challenge ahead in the election environment if Mr. Ribadu decides to finally run for an office.” Ima Niboro, Mr. Jonathan’s spokesman as usual refused to answer phone calls and text questions at the weekend regarding the claim that Mr. Ribadu had another meeting with the president on a new job offer.
Presidential sources however told NEXT yesterday that if the administration approves, Mr. Ribadu would be announced as the Senior Special Adviser to the president on Ethics and Governance, a position which would see him overseeing all the anti-corruption agencies in the country.
The presidency source, however, said the stiff opposition within the current administration appears to have drained the vigour of the tiny progressive elements in the administration and remained primed to stall Mr Ribadu’s entry. The major elements that have opposed his appointment, according to our source, include the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomen; the current Chief Justice of the Federation, Aloysius Katsina-Alu and the current Attorney General of the Federation, Bello Adoke, who have argued that it is inappropriate that Mr. Ribadu should head a body that will subordinate the current EFCC chairman, Farida Waziri.
The Jostle for Ribadu
ACN triggered an enthusiastic discussion on the need for a generation shift in the political leadership of the nation when it said that it is seeking what was termed a ‘child of independence’, that is, a candidate who is under 50 years of age to be the presidential flag bearer for the 2011 elections.
Sources close to the former EFCC chairman further told NEXT that while not less than 4 political parties have approached Mr. Ribadu, urging him to run for president in the coming 2011 elections under their various parties, the ACN formulation of its candidate requirement had put the pressure on Mr. Ribadu as a likely choice.
“The truth is that the party selected 36 credible candidates from the 36 states in the country and narrowed to some half a dozen candidates that are still being of which one will ultimately be selected” said a party official.
Ayogu Eze, Senate spokesman and a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) downplayed the overarching value of youth in the next presidential elections. “It is a combination of all factors at the end of the day, and the candidate that will advance the progress of the country and satisfy the interest of Nigerians that will carry the day,” he said.
Ribadu’s political future
Last Tuesday in Lagos, Mr. Ribadu, offered what appears to be a political manifesto in a speech titled, “An Asset, Yet” at the 13th annual Wole Soyinka lecture commemorating the Nobel Laureate’s 76th Birthday pointing more clearly to a political future, although when asked whether he will contest any political office in 2011, Mr. Ribadu retort was: “To that I say amen. But my expectation in 2011 really is free and fair election.” In his lecture, Mr Ribadu tried to arouse the national imagination, lashing at the mental laziness of its leaders, and the vibrance of the youth.
“I have always believed that to have an economy that depends solely on oil and gas is a sign of lack of economic imagination and ambition. It is a sign of mental laziness,” he said and using the example of Tanzania and Somalia, he dispelled the religious and ethnic albatross being touted as Nigeria’s problem.
“Tanzania in terms of its ethic diversity has about 175 ethnic groups and its religious pluralism is a good balance between Christians and Muslims. Not to idealize the country, and in spite of the usual strains and pains of nation building, is it not surprising to us that it remains the most stable and peaceful land in that region?” he asked.
“Think, on the other hand, of Somalia, with its homogeneity in ethnic and religious experience– one people, one religion, one language. What has become of it? Somalia is today the poster child of the very example of a veritable failed, and rogue state.”
Youth power as agenda
Mr. Ribadu especially appealed to the country’s flourishing youth to take their place in national development and quoting Christopher Kolade, a former ambassador of Nigeria of the UK, he flayed the preparations towards Nigeria’s 50 years experience: “I have read in the papers that the country might be celebrating its 50 years of independence this year and that we might be spending N10bn on that. For those of us that are more than 50 years, if we think about what we had in place 50years ago, then we shall be celebrating 50 years of decline” he said.
Source: Next
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