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Atsar Terver
Public Commentator
Port Harcourt
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Whoever has been following my thought process with respect to Nuhu Ribadu and his role at the helm of the EFCC will not find it difficult to predict my views on his ‘removal’. I have taken this risk of attracting invectives again because; most people don’t want to hear the other side of the story. They have been brainwashed with the fallacy that Ribadu equals EFCC and by extension, his removal equals a halt to the war on corruption. This is the greatest lie of the century.

 

WEEP NOT OVER RIBADU
by Atsar Terver
 

One of the hazards of writing especially over public issues is that at any point in time you stand between the devil and the deep blue sea. A good chunk of your readers are bound to disagree with your viewpoint while others agree. And sometimes it takes courage to swim against the tide as I am going to do on Ribadu.

I have grown some thick skin against vitriolic criticism from some section of my readership who delight in calling names instead of tackling issues raised in my articles. For instance, when I asked those who falsely accused the AGF of shielding Ibori to exhibit some statesmanship by saying sorry, when the man was arrested, someone simply sent me a mail saying: ‘you must be stupid. did he give you part of the money?’ I don’t not know which money this writer was referring to, but reading comments like these gives one an idea of the emotional level some Nigerians have been driven by the make-believe media propaganda on the anti-corruption war.

Whoever has been following my thought process with respect to Nuhu Ribadu and his role at the helm of the EFCC will not find it difficult to predict my views on his ‘removal’. I have taken this risk of attracting invectives again because; most people don’t want to hear the other side of the story. They have been brainwashed with the fallacy that Ribadu equals EFCC and by extension, his removal equals a halt to the war on corruption. This is the greatest lie of the century.

The personalization of power is in itself a form of corruption.We should be able to draw a line between the office of the chairman of EFCC and an individual called Ribadu. It was the failure of Obasanjo to see the difference between his office and his personality that led us to this present rudderless state where Nigerians cannot tell their rights and privileges; where some believe they need the permission of some god at Aso Rock to breath. EFCC as an institution should evolve a framework that would outlive an individual no matter his performance.

The uproar in media circles and by some self styled cognoscenti over Ribadu’s redeployment is not unexpected because, from the sidelines a keen observer could not fail to notice how he cunningly won over the gullible masses with emotional and oratory gimmicks designed to portray his messianic mission and indispensability, in his desperate attempt to remain relevant in a system that has no need of him.

Ribadu may have been an asset to Obasanjo’s administration but has become an embarrassing liability to the Yar’Adua government. This is not for any other reason than that while the former boss gloried in arbitrariness, meddlesomeness and vindictive selectiveness in the war against corruption, the later believes in due process, rule of law and a nonselective war. It should have been apparent to Ribadu that he cannot function in a government that believes in due process when he is averse to it. This is why I warned him in one of my articles early in the life of this administration that he should read the handwriting on the wall and change tactics or be ready to quit.

‘Granted that Yar’ Adua is obviously eager to continue the war against corruption and not only to retain the EFCC, but with him as the head, one expects Ribadu to have exploited the goodwill of Nigerians, weaned himself from the wilful errors of the past and changed his tactics for good. It is not likely that Yar’Adua is willing to inherit or perpetuate the vindictive approach to the war on corruption as instituted by his predecessor. Ribadu needs to read the mood of the new president and that of the public correctly and stop behaving as if he is somebody’s errand boy’

I wrote the paragraph above on July 21, 2007 barely two months into the life of the Yar’Adua Administration and today that statement has become prophetic in some way.

Instead of heeding advice, he launched a media campaign of blackmail against the AGF with active connivance of the media, who were eager to make headlines with the conflict between an insubordinate and effusive Ribadu and the Attorney General of the Federation. He suddenly abandoned crime investigation and became a ‘professional’ Guest Speaker at local and international conferences where he essentially ‘bad-mouthed’ the ‘enemies of anti-corruption’ (read the Nigerian Government). At a time he even ran to the National Assembly to pledge the much-abused term ‘loyalty ‘ with the hope they could help save his job. He claimed he was accountable to the People (National Assembly) and not the presidency! Just imagine!

That Yar’Adua tolerated Ribadu’s antics for seven months is a testimony of the man’s desire to fight corruption. In this time lapse, Ribadu was expected to reform his ways in line with the mood of the current dispensation-‘Rule of Law’. If indeed Ribadu believed that Yar’Adua is not eager to fight corruption, he had the singular honor to resign his appointment like Lukman did when it became obvious he could not advise OBJ. Choosing to hang onto the job and continuing to act at variance to the philosophy of the new government is not just immoral but outright insubordination.

Thinking about Ribadu reminds me about Prophet Elijah in the Bible. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah’s ministry came to an end when he began to think he was the last-man-standing in the war against the idolatry of king Ahab. When the Angel of God queried what he was doing a juniper tree, he began to recite his well rehearsed, self-promoting chorus- I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away’. Elijah never woke up from this self-delusion until God showed him an army of prophets, seven thousands of them, who had not bowed their heads to Baal!

Those weeping for Ribadu should weep no more. For in Nigeria we have more than seven thousand patriotic citizens (prophets) not known to Ribadu and his praise-singers, among whom an Elisha the son Shaphat could emerge, who could do better than Elijah (Ribadu)if given the chance. I can bet on this! Where was Ribadu and what was his track record before Atiku recommended him for appointment as EFCC Chairman?

Ribadu’s recommendation for training at NIPSS is most timely if not belated. His immaturity and lack of tact could be traced to the fact that he is yet to acquire the skills required to function in the capacity of an AIG. That a corrupt approach was adopted to promote Ribadu to fit into the oversized shoe he was made to wear in itself speaks volumes of the kind of result one has been seeing from such an agency.

All that Yar’Adua need do is to look for a credible, qualified and fearless person of proven integrity,to take over from Ribadu and the war on corruption will continue and even get better. It is then that Nigerians will see the difference and appreciate this seemingly unpopular move by his government.

Whoever would take over from Ribadu should do a searchlight on the financial administration of the EFCC under Ribadu and tell us how clean the records are. There have been speculations that so much foreign aid came in for which no proper account exists. The fact that there was a lot of sleaze going on under OBJ under the watchful eyes of Ribadu gives one some reason to doubt his holier-than-thou posture. There are also rumors of some petitions against his former boss or his cronies, which he is believed to have suppressed over the years. I was particularly worried when former Governor Turaki roped OBJ in his case and Ribadu was quick to come out and defend OBJ while dismissing Turaki’s confessions. We need to know more on these matters. Perhaps it would help some people to wipe off the tears they have shed over Ribadu.

 

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