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Babatunde Adenodi
Pharmacist
East Orange,
New Jersey
 USA

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The Nigeria Police has never been happy with Ribadu. He has stepped out of line from what we all know of the police. He is not a conformist. Non-conformists do not last in Nigeria’s uniformed forces. They are kicked out before they are noticed by the rank and file. Or they are put in big offices with big oak tree desks with batmen, and messengers. They are given big titles that come without responsibilities. They are usually wasted. Apparently, they cannot do this to Ribadu. He is probably too restless for this treatment. So, they sent him to school to sharpen his mind and made things worse for themselves! They had sought to destroy him by sending him to school. They hardly realized that they had unwittingly strengthened him in his resolve to fight on the people’s side.

 

 

Ribadu: Fighting Corruption Nigerian Style
 by Tunde Adenodi.
 

In 1966, the army took over the reign of governance and listed corruption as one of the reasons for their action. But what they called corruption in those early days was nothing compared with what they handed over to Shagari in 1979 after 13 years at the helm. And each successive government after Gowon lamented the degree of corruption they inherited from their predecessors and swore to fight it to a standstill. They said they did. But corruption has always won. The result of their fight is that Nigeria has emerged the 38th most corrupt nation on earth in a list of 41 countries. Put in another way, we are the third most corrupt nation on earth. And if President Yar’Adua continues the way he is going, we will catch up with the last two countries and emerge as the most corrupt nation on earth!

From the look of things, this appears to be his goal. This is his objective. And he does not have any pretentions about his goal. This is why he seems to look the other way when Nuhu Ribadu is being hounded by his appointees. And if Okiro, the IGP is his appointee as I believe he is, then,  Yar’Adua is vicariously responsible for the intimidation and humiliation of the one man who stands out as the only incorruptible police man in the nation. He is the only man in the history of Nigeria who has fought corruption the hardest; the one man who seems to have made an impact in the war both at home and in the international arena.

Yes, Nuhu Ribadu may have his faults. Who does not? But he stands out as one man most feared even by state governors and federal ministers. He is an embodiment of what an anti-corruption czar must be like.  And he is making an impact that is felt all over the world. More importantly, he has made an impact which Waziri, his successor is never likely to make.

For those who believe in Obasanjo bashing, it should be noted that Obasanjo was the one who discovered Ribadu in the depth of the dreg which we all know the police force is: I saw our police receive bribe and give change! I saw them beat up innocent people for nothing other than that they are carrying in their possession a transistor radio bought more than ten years earlier for which a receipt of purchase is being demanded or a ransom to be paid in lieu of the receipt. Bus passengers were herded into their police station and each person buys his way out! Innocent university students arrested for wandering or loitering even when they know that they are out scouting for work. I have heard worse about our police. Yet a Ribadu emerged. And there are probably a few more Ribadus in the force who may be intimidated by the Ribadu treatment. If Obasanjo is said to be corrupt and made so much effort to stamp out corruption, what would you say of Yar’Adua who is doing his damndest to frustrate Obasanjo’s effort? And what about those Ribadus who are motivated by the one Ribadu they would like to emulate?

Nuhu Ribadu was thought fit to be admitted into the National Institute of Strategic Studies. He is senior enough and qualified enough to attend. In fact, he is more qualified than most who are invited for this course. Along the way, Okiro demoted him. Then after that course, they have tried to deny him his hard earned certificate. In fact, right now, Ribadu is to appear before Police Service Disciplinary Committee which he has shunned. Whatever happens, he will be frustrated out of the service and treated like a criminal. And we hear of reports of grave threats to his life from various quarters to the extent that some world human rights bodies are calling on President Yar’Adua to do his best to protect him.

Will Yar’Adua heed this call? Probably not! If he does not, and I strongly suspect he will not, and something bad happens to Ribadu, the President will be totally responsible.

What crimes have Ribadu committed? General Olusegun Obasanjo discovered him from among the filth in the Police Force. He gave him a job which he did in an excellent manner. He dared to do what no one has ever done. He hacked down the mighty from their corrupt pedestal and brought them down to answer for their crimes. Governors and federal ministers are in jail or heading there for stealing billions of Naira.

When I was growing up, I heard of federal or state officials who stole thousands, but not any more. What they steal now is in the mind-bugling billions and trillions. Abacha was said to have stolen 2 billion dollars! Billion with a B. What in the world can a single person do with a billion dollars? Why would anyone steal 2 billion dollars? It could not be because they need it. No one needs a billion dollars.  They steal because the money is there and no one will challenge them for stealing it. But Ribadu made a difference. He made officials think twice before they steal. This is a serious deterrence for them. And at this stage of corruption fighting, it is not exactly enough; but it is a good beginning.

The Nigeria Police has never been happy with Ribadu. He has stepped out of line from what we all know of the police. He is not a conformist. Non-conformists do not last in Nigeria’s uniformed forces. They are kicked out before they are noticed by the rank and file. Or they are put in big offices with big oak tree desks with batmen, and messengers. They are given big titles that come without responsibilities. They are usually wasted. Apparently, they cannot do this to Ribadu. He is probably too restless for this treatment. So, they sent him to school to sharpen his mind and made things worse for themselves! They had sought to destroy him by sending him to school. They hardly realized that they had unwittingly strengthened him in his resolve to fight on the people’s side.

The responsibility of saving the battle against corruption now lies with the commander-in-chief. If it is his wish to fight corruption, he must save Ribadu from further embarrassment and humiliation from the very body that should protect him. The harassment of Ribadu must stop today.

In decent societies, Nuhu Ribadu would become the Inspector General of Police or the Minister of Justice. He would be offered national honors and more. But in a country that has bastardized national honors, it means nothing anymore. If Obasanjo thought it proper to award the GCFR to Babangida who humiliated Nigeria in the world, then maybe they should not give such award to Nuhu. He might even reject it! Did Soyinka not reject it?

If President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is to be told, he is fighting a losing battle against corruption. He is fighting the battle in the manner of the unique Nigerian style. If he continues to harass and torment Nuhu Ribadu until he is frustrated out of the police, then our president must kiss ethics and probity in government “good bye”.
 

 

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