Nuhu Ribadu Set To Become The New PDP National Chaiman

Ribadu set to become PDP Chairman, 

The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, will soon be appointed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman.

This is coming at a time when the former Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization, PDPPCO, Femi Fani-Kayode, said that the party might zone its national leadership to the N/East, with Ribadu’s name being touted as the most likely candidate.

The former PDP Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, resigned on May 20, 2015 on health grounds.

Since then, the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, has taken on the role in an acting capacity.

Post Nigeria gathered from a source close to the former EFCC boss, who pleaded anonymity, that the speculation was right on the issue, with Ribadu prepared to accept such an offer if and when an official pronouncement is made.

The source said, “the former EFCC boss has the international and local goodwill to occupy such a position.

He is someone that cannot be intimidated, and as such will be a credible opposition leader for the PDP when appointed.”

Speaking on the implication of such position for PDP and the N/East, he said “Ribadu’s track record of leadership and discipline will enable him reposition the PDP, in terms of credibility, mutual understanding, strategic planning, and formidable opposition.”

He noted that zoning such a position to the N/East, Ribadu’s native region, would help cushion the minority issue in the region in terms of position and Government presence.

When asked if the position had the capacity to kill Ribadu’s presidential ambition, he said “One thing I know, he is not for ambition, he is for services.

Right from when he left as EFCC boss, he has been serving in one capacity or the order, his quest for service made him to contest the 2015 governorship polls in Adamawa state.”

On whether Ribadu would consider Buhari’s ministerial slot as speculated in some quarters, against the PDP chairmanship our source dismissed the very notion.

I don’t think that is true, it is not ideal, he is not a member of the All Progressive Congress and as such I don’t think he will accept it.”

As at the time of filing this report, the leaders of the PDP were said to be zeroing in on Ribadu because of the public perception and integrity to match and outshine President Muhammadu Buhari.

The party’s national convention where Ribadu and other Board of Trustees, BoT, members of the party will emerge is slated for lather this month.

Ribadu is also reported to have the blessing of former President Goodluck Jonathan and some other party leaders.

However, elements in the APC, who may not achieve their ambitions in the party, are fighting hard against the emergence of Ribadu as party chair, in the hope that they can return to the PDP to achieve their motives.

The prospect of a Ribadu chairmanship remains very popular within the party.

The PDP, now requires more from Ribadu, than the man requires from the party.

The S/South and S\East being the strongholds of the PDP, have unanimously given their support to RIbadu, with lawmakers and Governors from the regions, strongly rooting for him.

THE MAN NUHU RIBADU

THE MAN NUHU RIBADU

Nuhu Ribadu was born in Yola, Adamawa state, on November 21^st, 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.