The return of Nuhu Ribadu

It’s quite interesting watching Ribadu evolve. A young Yola boy who went to school to study law, ended in the police force as a detective, made good showings to his superiors and ended being on the prosecution team that tried Moshood Abiola, some people’s hero of democracy only to turn round and become a symbol […]

It’s quite interesting watching Ribadu evolve. A young Yola boy who went to school to study law, ended in the police force as a detective, made good showings to his superiors and ended being on the prosecution team that tried Moshood Abiola, some people’s hero of democracy only to turn round and become a symbol of the same democracy some might argue he was on a trail to permanently silence.

Ribadu’s rise from the ashes of that infamy to national limelight is as legendary as its part of his comeback streak. The moment he was appointed as the chair of EFCC, Ribadu set to work with raw talent, clear vision and distinct strategy. He also hired some of the best undertakers not only in the investigation business, but in the administration of the EFCC.

Ribadu convinced Olusegun Obasanjo to crack his own boss, Tafa Balogun and got the nod. Balogun, who, like the later Ribadu was Obasanjo and PDP’s attack dog, was used and dumped by the same greed that earned him the trust of the man who appointed him. And Ribadu kicked him with a coup dur even though Nigerians saw the penalty for Balogun’s greed as a mere slap on the wrist. But Nigerians got value for their suspicion, that the evidence they see at checkpoints and the inability of the police high command to put a stop to it is evidence of a higher level of corruption up there. If you ask any curious observer, that does not whitewash the image of Ribadu as a cop, but gave him an edge as one who is able to do his bid where that is required of him as a duty.

Unfortunately, the Ribadu anti-graft train lost steam when faced with the sheer cunning of the Obasanjo maverick. And with that little level of taint, even the National Assembly, infested as it were by unprosecuted drug barons and 419 kingpins (apology to Senator Nuhu Aliyu), began to regret that it did not put in checks and balances that would have clipped the wings of the EFCC when it had the chance. So much was the heat generated by Ribadu’s determination that even legislators were not sitting pretty on their seats, knowing that Nuhu’s long arms may just at some point get at them.

 Anyone watching the career of Ribadu then knew that he would end somewhere on the dead end street. With barons of corruption such as James Ibori becoming ticket collectors on the late Umaru Yar’Adua’s train, it was only clear that except Ribadu resigned or sought reposting back to the officer ranks of the police where he came from, he was bound to end in disgrace. He did, but not through any fault of his.

Weeks back, the same grand manipulation that swept Ribadu off his feet brought him back not as a fugitive of the law, but to a hero’s welcome. As far as Ribadu was concerned, whether he was part of the deal to save his face or not, this is the way he had always wanted it all to end. With speculations that Ribadu may take higher roles, this is one dicey move that if he would take, must be with a serious thought. The Jonathan government seeks local and international relevance. It can only get it with targeted action where it is needed, and action is needed to tackle corruption at the jugular, both at the national level, and to earn positive miles from the ever-watching international community. Although Nigeria is not lacking in men with the Ribadu tact and zeal, he is a tested hand better qualified than most.

Was the decision to return Ribadu this way a wise one? Well, only time will tell. History often offers some men many chances to right some of the wrongs of their first appearance and failing which, they are permanently soiled. Ribadu must remember this. He may also be working on a lost opportunity. At the University of Westminster in April last year, Ribadu lamented that when he was kicked out, he had less than N400,000 in his account. Is this an opportunity to change that parlous state of individual impoverishment or to put his name in gold? To those who are angry that Ribadu was promoted over his superiors, I have a poser – how many of his superiors would risk their lives the way he did fighting corruption? It is a tradition in the armed forces that gallantry is rewarded with promotion – we have stories of recruits promoted sergeants etc, why should Ribadu’s case be different? Or is it the usual bashing based on the fact that we northerners are not capable of getting anything of merit except by manipulation?