THE MAN NUHU RIBADU
Nuhu Ribadu was born in Yola, Adamawa state, on November 21st,
1960. Ribadu attended Aliyu Mustapha Primary School, Yola, from
1966-1973 and Yelwa Government Secondary School, Yola from 1973-1977.
Between 1978 and 1980, he was at the College of Preliminary Studies,
CPS, Yola for his A-level studies. In 1980, he gained admission to study
law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1983. He graduated
from the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1984. He
joined the Nigeria Police Force immediately after his national service.
Ribadu holds an LLM Degree with emphasis
on the jurisprudence of corruption in Nigeria from the Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria. In 2008, he was at the Harvard Business School where
he did the programme in the Strategic Management of Law Enforcement
Agencies.
The name Nuhu Ribadu has become a House
hold name in Nigeria and beyond on account of his glorious public
service record and personal integrity. A trained lawyer and fearless
crime fighter. Ribadu has carved a niche for himself as someone who is
patriotic, passionate, honest, courageous and compassionate.
He was the pioneer executive chairman of
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the government
commission task in countering corruption and fraud, which he literally
transformed into one of the most effective and renowned anti-graft
agency in modern history. Yet, his major tribute to anti-corruption
crusade was his selflessness, resilience and exemplary conduct in his
spirited fight against the cankerworm.
With uncommon commitment and dedication
to duty, Ribadu worked assiduously to clean the Aegean stable created by
graft and frauds. He courageously brought to book hundreds of
fraudsters, scores of high profile looters and economic saboteurs in
spite of temptation, booby traps and threat to life. In three years,
EFCC under his leadership built the now most celebrated crimes training
and research institute in the West African region. The Agency also
recorded over two hundred convictions under his leadership.
In acknowledgement of this rare
achievement, Ribadu was promoted to the rank of the Assistant Inspector
General of Police (AIG), in March 2007. The African Union put him on its
advisory board on anti corruption matters; and he was invited to join
the advisory board of friends of the world Bank/UNODC initiative on
stolen asset recovery. Ribadu is a recipient of several awards as a
Police officer, prosecutor and chairman EFCC. He received the Inspector
General of Police Award in 1997, 1998 and 2000 and the special
commendation of Mr. President in 2005, for the successful prosecution of
several advanced fee fraud, banking fraud and sundry economic crime
cases. He was also specially commended by the Accountant General of the
Federation for successfully prosecuting some corrupt public servants in
1999.
Since 2004, notable news papers and
magazines in Nigeria have repeatedly voted Ribadu as Man of the Year, in
recognition of his outstanding achievements as a committed crusader
against corruption and other related crimes.
In 2008, Ribadu completed the senior
executive course of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic
Studies where he was conferred with the membership of the National
Institute, MNI. In June, 2010, Ribadu was awarded the doctor of laws
(Honoris Causa) in recognition of his “resolute courage” as well as his
“fierce stance against corruption in the face of sponsored disgrace and
certain debt that has resulted into positive changes and global
acclaimed hitherto considered impossible”.
In a quest for higher call to service,
Ribadu aspired to help the country as the presidential candidate of the
Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) in 2011 election. He however lost to
incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, in August 2014, Ribadu left his
former party; the All Progressive Congress (APC) to join the Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP) under whose platform he is aspiring to be
Governor of Adamawa state as a mark of sacrifice not only to root out
corruption in the polity which remains a critical success factor in
governance but also to arrest the decadence in the state. With a
resounding pedigree-integrity, commitment, astute administration
capacity, a sense of justice and fairness, and above all, being
passionate in whatever he does, Ribadu would bring this personal and
amiable attribute to create a sense of belonging, unite the people,
protect the weak and vulnerable, adhere to the rule of law and improve
the living conditions of Adamawa people and Nigerians as a whole. Ribadu
believes that “in countries like Nigeria, if there is going to be hope,
chances are; it is going to be through the enthronement of law and
order, rule of law, doing things properly and correctly”; and that, “no
policy of government can ever work unless you start from the basics,
unless you will start cleaning up and giving a chance for policies to
work”. It is with this vision in mind that he declared “I am in politics
to participate, to look for an opportunity and chance to make my own
contributions and help make a better country”.
We do not assume that it would be easy
to effect desirable change, nevertheless, it is our acute awareness of
the enormity of the problems and challenges ahead that we intend to
carry every meaningful person along in our relentless and epoch-making
aspiration. This manifesto drives from the fundamental objectives and
directive principles of the Nigerian constitution, it recognises the
contributions of all stakeholders and spurs us into action, it is both a
statement of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and a call for action for the good
people of Adamawa state. It serves as our preparation to foster
commitment and engender good governance-for our people and our future-a
drive towards our equality, hopes and achievements.
