DRIVING NUHU RIBADU OUT OF TOWN 
 

The EFCC is a good example of a noble idea gone awry. Faced with the rabble-rousing histrionics of its mercurial head called Nuhu Ribadu and the glaring evidence that both the outfit and its chairman have become tools in the service of a dictator and his anti-people fantasies, Nigerian democrats and those who wish our country well must be alarmed at the prospect of letting Ribadu and the contraption he pretends to lead continue to desecrate our democratic spaces with his resort to violent and illegal tactics that clearly are an affront to the sensibilities of decent, law-abiding citizens. If the truth must be told, Nuhu Ribadu has constituted himself into an uncouth loud-mouth with a penchant for mafia-style antics. As things now stand, Ribadu’s EFCC has joined the police and the SSS in particular as one of the notable instruments of state being deployed in a criminal and outlaw fashion by His Majesty to constrict Nigeria’s democratic environment with an aim to perpetuating the status quo – a sinister proposition that cannot be in the short or long-term interest of the average Nigerian.  

Yet, history has taught us that the type of fool’s paradise being sought after by Obasanjo and his allies is the ultimate challenge or danger that a community can be confronted with. And how well members of that community respond to such a  threat to their collective patrimony is bound to determine the course of future development in the society. That is why the next time Ribadu descends on any community with his fellow thugs in the furtherance of the script laid down by his political master, all men and women of goodwill should rise and chase the rascals out of town for the likes of Ribadu and Obasanjo cowardly hide behind the tapestry of pseudo-constitutionalism in order to prosecute their petty agenda of corrupt self-preservation and political partisanship.  

There is no gainsaying that Nigerians who have been bruised by decades of corrupt practices on the part of their so-called leaders are yearning for  good and morally-conscious representatives. Those who tell them they will fight the plague of 419 and do actually commit themselves to the pledge should become instant heroes. But the moment the initial mission is hijacked and its agents conscripted for unwholesome purposes as is the case in the current witch-hunting and grandstanding the EFCC’s Ribadu has graduated into, Nigerians should not hesitate to call the apostates and their supporters to order. Beyond the obviously selective posture of his relentless, if reckless hounding of figures who in the main are considered as political enemies or associates of enemies of Obasanjo, there is the worrisome question of process, namely, the evidently illegal manner Ribadu, an agent of the Aso Rock tyrant, is going about his supposed business of fighting corruption. The lack of due process that keeps manifesting itself in the EFCC’s actions is troubling and raises more questions as to the commitment of Obasanjo and his henchmen to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. As I did stress elsewhere, the corrupt and illegal use of state structures in the so-called anti-corruption campaign is doing more harm than good. The lack of trust in government processes should be a constant source of worry for all. Already, the corrupt use of Ribadu, his EFCC and other fixtures, has ensured that governance at the federal level has been paralyzed for some time now. This is taking its toll on the Nigerian psyche.  The Nigerian nation is being held hostage by loathsome types with a disdain for democratic governance. These unpatriotic characters cannot be allowed to have their way. The stakes are just too great for the country.  

While Nuhu Ribadu pontificates and noisily denounces politicians and other individuals not considered as politically willing to play ball with Obasanjo, he studiously keeps mute or, worse, obfuscates by wallowing in meanderings of inconsistency and duplicity when confronted with the sleazy and thieving conduct of his master and the cabal he belongs to. For those genuinely seeking after the truth, it must be mentioned that a recent document written by retired Col. Abubakar Umar  on the dishonest and hypocritical way the anti-corruption war is being pursued by Ribadu and his gang should be considered as a critical part of any intelligence on the state of the nation under the regime of Baba Aremu. In his sweeping and disparaging remarks against state governors at the National Assembly recently, Ribadu was careful to leave out mentioning where much of the corruption in government offices takes place, namely, the presidency of Matthew Okikiolakan Obasanjo. And one should not ignore the fact that Obasanjo’s family members and henchmen like Bode George, Tony Anenih, and Ahmadu Ali have cases to answer regarding their respective roles in the handling of public money. Surely, Ribadu cannot be taken seriously. He has developed into a quantity of tragic proportions. And the tragic posture of which Ribadu and the EFCC are now an embodiment has once more been on display, this time, in places like Ekiti and Plateau. 

In a show of shame reminiscent of the ‘coups d’état’ in Bayelsa and Oyo, Nuhu Ribadu has arrested sitting legislators of Ekiti and Plateau states, supposedly on charges of corruption. These legislators have virtually been held incommunicado. They have been intimidated and forced to start impeachment proceedings against their respective state governors whom Ribadu and his boss consider as embezzlers. It is said that sometimes tragedy presents itself as farce. This was the case a few days ago when, discarding any pretense of legality and the rule of law, Ribadu’s EFCC dragged eight members of the Plateau state legislature whom they had been holding to Jos,  under heavy police escort,. Six of the legislators, out of a 24-member House, were forced to start impeachment proceedings against the state governor, Joshua Dariye! This smacks of utmost disdain for constitutionality and the Nigerian people. This is how The Guardian reported the tragedy in Jos: “EIGHT of the 24-member Plateau State House of Assembly yesterday breezed into the Assembly Chambers and declared that they were holding a valid legislative meeting.

Heavily guarded by over 400 policemen and officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the eight legislators proceeded to pass resolutions.

First, they declared the Assembly Speaker, Mr. Simon Lalong, impeached and appointed a replacement, Mr. Michael Dapialong, who represents the Quaan Pan South Constituency of the state.

They thereafter passed a resolution serving an impeachment notice on the state Governor, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye.

The eight legislators came from the custody of the EFCC where they were being detained. Immediately after the resolutions, the eight legislators went back to Abuja with the Assembly mace.

As the eight legislators were meeting, there were sporadic gunshots in the premises by the police to scare away some supporters of the governor who wanted to force themselves into the Assembly chambers. The policemen overpowered the demonstrators who were mainly women…” A Nigerian newspaper caption has aptly described the violent attempt by the EFCC and the police, acting on orders from Obasanjo, to remove Governor Dariye, as “gun-point democracy”.  

Irrespective of what the state executives in both Ekiti and Plateau are alleged to have done, due process should be meticulously applied in their cases. To do otherwise would mean the courting of disaster. It is dictatorship of the Nazi kind. The illegal abduction and detention of state legislators only to force them to remove governors should be condemned in the strongest of terms. The hand of the Imperial Ruler from Otta in all this is quite palpable. Ribadu is a mere agent, a subaltern taking orders from none other than his political master. The scenario is a familiar one. It is the tale of Aremu as puppet master and Ribadu as a spineless puppet at his beck and call, an acolyte programmed to do the bidding of his ‘big oga’. It is a potent statement that we have in Nigeria  today an individual laying claim to the Nigerian presidency who is a figure of scatology par excellence. His obsession with perfidy is at once numbing and unprecedented in the history of our nation.

Nigeria has never had it so bad in a supposed democracy. Those who rightly condemn the recent coup in Thailand should also reject what Obasanjo and his agents in the police, the SSS and the EFCC are doing  in the name of a supposed anti-corruption campaign. In either case, allegations of corruption against public officials are used as a pretext for a military-style destitution of constituted authority.  

It is apparent to discerning minds that the main objective of Ribadu’s gangster politics is to as much as possible seek to discredit Obasanjo’s perceived enemies ahead of the crucial primaries of the various political parties. The escalation of what is tantamount to political thuggery on the part of Ribadu and his fellow foot-soldiers is no doubt Baba’s revenge on opponents of his failed ‘term elongation’ gambit. But the appropriate answer to the type of reckless impunity symbolized by Ribadu and his mentor, the tyrant at Aso Rock, should be an uncompromising repudiation of what these cavemen stand for in the present scheme of things. Obasanjo and his éminence grise are not interested in nurturing democracy in Nigeria. Their actions speak volumes. Ribadu should be reminded that he is a nonentity, a moral nuisance willingly embracing the vile and criminal tactics of a discredited ruler. That there are consequences. Ribadu and his partners in crime must be resisted. Citizens should rise and fight them with every means at their disposal. To retreat in the face of Obasanjo’s ignoble assault on the nation’s democratic mores and decency is to invite lawlessness and the enthronement of mediocrity and rascality as tools for societal relevance. Ribadu must resign. That is if he has integrity. You cannot fight corruption in an atmosphere vitiated by the selfish agenda of those charged with prosecuting the campaign. A government that has proved through its sordid track record that it shuns due process and the rule of law is not in a position to fight corruption. The proof of this is the current regime’s numerous contradictions like the thick cloud of sleaze at the presidency. What this means is that neither Obasanjo nor his agent, Ribadu, can transparently and effectively lead the campaign against corruption. Only a democracy-conscious – as in the respect of human rights – government can be expected to show leadership in that regard. Today, Nuhu Ribadu and his EFCC have become part and parcel of the corruption problem in Nigeria. In order to restore a semblance of sanity and credibility to the anti-corruption fight, Ribadu must go. Ribadu lacks the sober mien expected of a government official in his position. In a legerdemain, he dismisses legitimate criticism even as he indulges in intemperate, partisan pronouncements on critical national issues whereby the unmistakable message is the unwarranted denunciation of Obasanjo’s political foes. The next democratically elected government should seek to prosecute the likes of Ribadu and their crimes against Nigerians. In a new and determined anti-corruption drive to be undertaken after May 29, 2007, the support of the people will be crucial. That support will be predicated on transparency, due process, trust and goodwill on the part of all concerned, ingredients which are sadly lost in a maze of Ribadu’s rabble-rousing and gangsterism.  

Aonduna Tondu 

New York.

Robot  # 1 | 08.10.2006 01:04

The next democratically elected government should se...Read the full article.

Palamedes  # 2 | 08.10.2006 04:26

Nuhu Ribadu the rabble-rousing histrionics Nuhu Ribadu the gangster politician Ribadu the anti-people fantasist Ribadu the desecrator of democratic spaces Nuhu Ribadu the uncouth loudmouth Nuhu Ribadu the user of mafia-style antics Nuhu Ribadu the leader of thugs Nuhu Ribadu the rascal Nuhu Ribadu the tapestry of pseudo-constitutionalism veiler Nuhu Ribadu the witch-hunter Nuhu Ribadu the grandstander Nuhu Ribadu the outlaw Nuhu Ribadu the apostate Nuhu Ribadu the selective posturer Nuhu Ribadu the reckless hound of figures Nuhu Ribadu the agent of the Aso Rock tyrant Nuhu Ribadu the disdainer for democratic governance Nuhu Ribadu the unpatriotic characters ... So much name-calling and yet your qualms and animosity is not really with Nuhu Ribadu or is it? On the contrary, it is about Obasanjo. Why then are you using Nuhu Ribadu as your punching bag? Seating heads of governments always enjoy special privileges from law enforcement agencies. It would be very naïve of you to think that any of them would be indicted for corruption. Even judicial inquiry or grand jury to investigate them always exonerates them while they are in power. The protection thieving governors and mediocrity enjoy under our constitution is very immoral. Therefore, to hell with 'due process.' Extreme problem situation calls for extreme solution to stabilize it. I often wonder why the 'due process' protagonist and brigade don't preach the gospel according to 'due process' to the thieving governors and criminals. Why waste it on good people? My criticism of Nuhu Ribadu is that he is too soft with the thieves and mediocrity in our country. In the least, the corrupt associates of governors and other public officials should all be rotting in jails. At his work rate, we would never be able to clean Nigeria of these (expletive deleted) in 100 years. Of course, you, Sir, have nothing to worry from New York. Talking about New York, do you remember Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani and the NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and how both men brought down the NY crime rate to below the US National average in the 90s and '00s? These men make Nuhu Ribadu's methods look like breast feeding criminals. Nigeria has never had it so bad in a supposed democracy. Those who rightly condemn the recent coup in Thailand should also reject what Obasanjo and his agents in the police, the SSS and the EFCC are doing in the name of a supposed anti-corruption campaign. Sir, you lost me completely: what has coup in Thailand got to do with anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria. The romantics of military governments like you, Sir, must have very short memory span. Nigeria is in a mess because of the long years of military leadership and you have the temerity from New York to threaten Nigerians with military coup if Nuhu Ribadu does not stop his anti-corruption campaign? What logic! Would you be encouraging 'due process' under your military government too?

Bunch17  # 3 | 08.10.2006 04:37

Therefore, to hell with 'due process.' Extreme problem situation calls for extreme solution to stabilize it. I take it then that uou are one of those supporting the return of the military?

Palamedes  # 4 | 08.10.2006 05:51

Don't be silly, Bunch17, did you read the full comments or are you a 'sherry picker' of words.

Bunch17  # 5 | 08.10.2006 06:23

=Palamedes;133593>Don't be silly, Bunch17, did you read the full comments or are you a 'sherry picker' of words. Sorry Sir. On a more serious note, that Bunch17 head of **** says or believes that Palamedes is corrupt does not make it so. Due process demands that I charge you to court, show your representatives the evidence I have against you and be cross examined. I must have to prove my case with the level of doubt allowed by whatever law. Due process also demand that you may not be detained indefinitely without being charged. You say they are corrupt, they and there followers say no that is not the case, should we not decide once and for all who is right. I am not sure you really read Mr Aonduna Tondu's article very well. You seem to have grossed over the fact that : EFCC had arrested 8 legislators from Plateau state. These 8 legislators were held incomminicado, then arrive in Jos formed a "quorum of 8 " (constitution says 2/3rd ie at least 16 members of the house) and impeached the speaker of the house, Left again for Abuja taking the mace along effectively paralysing the functions of the house. What next? Getting rid of a Governor, President, LGA chairman with a quorum of one? Well that is what the military would do. When people speak about Democracy in Nigeria, we are often told we have to let it evolve, we have to learn yet when it suits us we ask for Drastic Measures. The drastic measure which you advocate, which is at the expense of the Nigerian constititution is simply Tyranny.

omoluabi  # 6 | 08.10.2006 06:48

Erudition is lost when the conscience is mortgaged! One can only conclude that the once erudite author of this uninspiring and illogical piece of trash has been consumed by the desire to protect his MASTERS! Of course, that would be directly opposing Nuhu's acclaimed drive to cleanse the augean stable and bring justice to the "enemies" of the Nigerian people. There is no gainsaying that Nigerians who have been bruised by decades of corrupt practices on the part of their so-called leaders are yearning for good and morally-conscious representatives. Those who tell them they will fight the plague of 419 and do actually commit themselves to the pledge should become instant heroes. But the moment the initial mission is hijacked and its agents conscripted for unwholesome purposes as is the case in the current witch-hunting and grandstanding the EFCC’s Ribadu has graduated into, Nigerians should not hesitate to call the apostates and their supporters to order. So, Nuhu remained a hero as long as his brief was limited to fighting the 419ers. But the moment he began fighting "entrenched enemies" --masquerading as "rulers" and their apologists-- of the Nigerian peoples then he crossed the line. What kind of irrationality begets such a stupid proposition? oi, are we being asked to capitulate to the perfidious and larcenous dictates of these vipers or else? And what are the consequences of Ribadu's fearless crusade against a class of miscreants and their planted pawns ? Is there any doubt on whose side the Nigerian people shall be ? Ribadu, non-entity? Impossible! Nigeria's return to a glorious past began in earnest with the picking up of the gauntlet by Ribadu, and that no doubt shall cause his name to be forever etched in gold, unlike the damning judgement history will mete out to the sponsors of the author. Palemedes, your tribe must increase!

gwobezentashi  # 7 | 08.10.2006 13:04

Nuhu Ribadu: Anti-corruption czar or Obasanjo’s weapon? By Babayola Toungo I had the misfortune of watching the NTA network news of September 28, 2003, the day the PDP held its 33rd NEC meeting. Misfortune I say, because as matter of principle, I don’t watch the half truths the television network dishes out daily as news to its phantom 30 million viewers. But this day, I was at an elder brother’s house and it happens he was one of the ’30 million viewers of NTA network news. Watching President Olusegun Obasanjo address the gathering of the party’s “big wigs” (or nit-wits) made me want to puke. The audacity with which he looked Nigerians in the eye and contradicted Nuhu Ribadu’s submission to the Senate the previous day took away my breath literally. It is now apparent that Obasanjo doesn’t have an iota of respect for Nigerians, else how do you situate his dismissal with a wave of his callous hand, the weighty allegations levelled against the governors by the Chairman of EFCC as “spurious”. I thought it was the same “spurious” EFCC that investigated and presented a report to the presidency which Obasanjo is using to nail his deputy for corruption. Was the same EFCC that went through the Marine Float and MOFAS accounts with a toothbrush? Watching Nuhu Ribadu’s presentation to the Senate, one could see the zeal oozing out of the anti-corruption czar. The anger in him was so thick you could feel it in the atmosphere or even slice it with a knife. His anger was understandable because of the sleaze that was uncovered by his men in the course of their investigations into the financial affairs of the states and local government councils. Cases of outright theft, embezzlement, diversion of funds and many other serious cases of financial misdemeanours with facts and figures were uncovered, documented and presented to the upper legislative house. Painstaking investigative police and detective work went into the unearthing of the said sordid details and deals of our governors, who always prefer investing in foreign countries to the detriment of their land. People who take pride in buying up real estate in Europe, the Americas and the latest vogue – South Africa. Houses that they may never live in. All pertinent details were supplied by the EFCC and according to the chairman, investigations have been completed in about 15 states and the agency could go to court in about 2 weeks time. And now, Obasanjo is telling us that all that EFCC submitted is ‘not completely true.’ It was Ribadu that supplied the hammer that Obasanjo used in nailing Atiku’s skin to the wall, though in all honesty, Atiku is giving as much as he is taking. But the impudence of Obasanjo in trying to stand the truth on its head is absurd, to say the least. I think Obasanjo is beginning to believe that all Nigerians are gullible and susceptible to double standards. As is usual with Obasanjo, in his haste to nail everyone else, he forgot he still needed some favours from the governors and therefore, may be an easy target for blackmail by them. When Nuhu Ribadu released his report to the Senate, it was fortuitous for the governors as they were to meet in Abuja with the president for the Council of States meeting. So they bullied the bully to publicly disown Ribadu and his report or else, they will withhold their support for him in his battle with Atiku. The bully, had to succumb to this cheap blackmail and Ribadu was made the fall guy with his reputation on the line. Now, he is being made to eat the humble pie publicly by the president I think I might have given Ribadu more credit for intelligence than he deserved if after the NPA/ Bode George fiasco, he still believes Obasanjo is interested in fighting corruption. Ribadu was in Nigeria when Obasanjo entered a nolle prosequi on the very day judgement was to be delivered in a case where his cousin – Makanjoula was accused of theft; he was in this country when Obaseki thumbed his nose at us and literally asked Nigerians to go to hell when he, alongside Obasanjo destroyed the oil sector and turned it into a personal business. Ribadu is living in Abuja with the likes of Tony Anenih and Chris Uba who wine and dine with Obasanjo despite allegations of corruption against them. Moral burden? The PDP is our moral burden. Nigerians are asking about Obasanjo’s N8million eye glasses. What answers do we get? Insults and threats. Nigerians have been treated to a circus show in the past three weeks between Team Obasanjo and Team Atiku. But when Team Atiku appears set to coast home to victory, Obasanjo caused the arrest of Team Atiku’s anchorman. We are all by now aware that both Atiku and Obasanjo are the people without conscience and they could both lie through their teeth without shame or remorse. But of the two, I think I prefer to go with Atiku because he isn’t given to saying much – at least he is economical with his words so will hardly ever tell us lies. But Obasanjo – ah, ah. At the said meeting of the PDP NEC, he was talking about zero tolerance of corruption, yet they were shoulder to shoulder with the indicted governors and the likes of Chris Uba. The same body suspended Atiku for three months for corruption and corrupt practices. Well, it is Atiku’s fault for showing Obasanjo how these political manoeuvrings are done. Remember 2003 elections? I have always thought Atiku to be the crooked one of the presidential pair. I was of the mistaken belief that Atiku was the armed robber and Obasanjo the pick-pocket. Now I know better. So I am using this medium to apologise to Atiku for mistaking him to be his boss’s alter ego. Going by the spate of revelations sparked-off by the failed third term ambition, Atiku should be regarded a saint compared to Obasanjo. But in this whole “na you, na me” drama, the one that came out with garlands round his neck is Mallam Garba Shehu, Atiku’s spokesman. I hope by his performance, the embattled Vice President will now realise the place of intellectuals in governance and politics. When the chips were down, the court jesters and political janjaweeds that surround the VP melted into thin air and left the battlefield for the likes of Garba Shehu and Dr. Akande. If for nothing else, I believe the vice president has learnt some lessons the hard way. Toungo wrote in from Ungwar Sarki, Kaduna State. http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/Nuhu%20Ribadu-%20Anti-corruption%20czar%20or%20Obasanjo’s%20weapon.htm MrOneNaija, Nuhu Ribadu is many of the things you have stated and more and we must not overlook the positive things he has done. You have acknowledged his role in tackling and reducing the 419 menace but he also gave us all hope with the zeal that he confronted executive/political sleaze. As with a lot of our things, the shine has been taken off his achievements by the evident slant in his pursuits and his penchant for abusing the rights of the accused. I recall in the days of Buhari, when a similar feeling of disgust against errant corrupt politicians transformed into sympathy for the same politicians when it became apparent that their rights were being trampled on. Babangida actually claimed his overthrow of Buhari was for the restitution of human rights and he was welcomed with open arms. Whereas Nuhu's campaign against corrupt public officers is welcome because we have all been scandalised by the antics of some of our politicians, executives and legislators alike. We are more scandalised by the trampling on the provisions of the most important document in our polity by those who swore to uphold and defend it. This is why Obasanjo will get what is coming to him and there is sufficient precedence to show that "following orders" will not exonerate the head "tom tom macoute" from culpability for his role in the abuses that have become so prevalent in our times. Finally, it is rather infantile for anyone to suggest that because a person holds a contrary view to him, that the view must be "sponsored". Infact it goes to show the mindset of the accuser and suggests that his views are held on the back of the type of "sponsorship" he alludes to. It is a free world and everyone must be allowed their point of view without immature responses or taunts. @ Bunch 17 We've been here before. Let's give credit where it is due. We are all agreed that some of these politicians deserve to be in jail but so do Nuhu and his boss too. Things have to be done properly though, if we crave a society of laws and invite others to treat us with respect. Once upon a time, it was all "due process, due process" as the mantra for this government. There was even a Madam Due Process but it seems due process only applies when it is politically expedient and it clearly has not stopped corruption emanating from the Presidency where the Due Process office is situated. So regardless of what their PR say, it is business as usual in the abuse of the rights of citizens just like the soldiers did. Nigerians did not fight a sit tight dictator to end up with an ungrateful sit tight dictator in his stead. Tufiakwa, as they say. That Plateau display is just another example of the contempt that these people have for our laws. They will not get away with it. That much you can be sure of. They think that they got away with lawlessness in Bayelsa and Oyo not knowing that there is posterity to contend with. Obasanjo can dream all he likes of extending his stay but he will be lucky to remain till May 2007. An extension is well out of the question regardless of the circumstances. Now, the pro TTA Senators have warned their "father of modern corruption" not to dare come to the Victor Ndoma-Egba Panel because they know what is waiting for him there. All we can say to him is, you can run but you cannot hide. He failed to remember that those who live in glass houses must not throw stones. The genie is out of the bottle and it is too late to call a halt. My people say mai-ido daya ba ya yin kanne meaning a person with only one eye cannot close one eye and wink. As for Nuhu, I hope he is enjoying his moment in the limelight. The same fate as befell Major Al-Mustapha awaits him and since he says he is fearless, we will not waste any tears on him. Aluta! Gwobezentashi

SBI  # 8 | 08.10.2006 13:29

@Palamedes Sir, you lost me completely: what has coup in Thailand got to do with anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria. The romantics of military governments like you, Sir, must have very short memory span. The way I see it, if arresting and locking up 24 elected representatives of the people for over two weeks and then bringing 8 of them under gun-point to declare the Speaker of the House sacked and issue impeachment notices against the elected Governor and then taking them back again into custody, does not spell out C.O.U.P. then what Sani Abacha and Muhammad Buhari did on 31st Dec 1983 was a political rally. Since you probably have a better memory than most you will recall that they also rationalised their actions then as an anti-corruption drive. SBI

emj  # 9 | 08.10.2006 13:34

The lack of trust in government processes should be a constant source of worry for all. Already, the corrupt use of Ribadu, his EFCC and other fixtures, has ensured that governance at the federal level has been paralyzed for some time now. This is taking its toll on the Nigerian psyche. The Nigerian nation is being held hostage by loathsome types with a disdain for democratic governance. These unpatriotic characters cannot be allowed to have their way. The stakes are just too great for the country. WIll not continue to have their way, when we as a people arise and say enough is enough, nothing short of a Revolution, the 'Agbekoya type' will put an end to this rubbish. While Nuhu Ribadu pontificates and noisily denounces politicians and other individuals not considered as politically willing to play ball with Obasanjo, he studiously keeps mute or, worse, obfuscates by wallowing in meanders of inconsistency and duplicity when confronted with the sleazy and thieving conduct of his master and the cabal he belongs to. For those genuinely seeking after the truth, it must be mentioned that a recent document written by retired Col. Abubakar Umar on the dishonest and hypocritical way the anti-corruption war is being pursued by Ribadu and his gang should be considered as a critical part of any intelligence on the state of the nation under the regime of Baba Aremu. In his sweeping and disparaging remarks against state governors at the National Assembly recently, Ribadu was careful to leave out mentioning where much of the corruption in government offices takes place, namely, the presidency of Matthew Okikiolakan Obasanjo. And one should not ignore the fact that Obasanjo’s family members and henchmen like Bode George, Tony Anenih, and Ahmadu Ali have cases to answer regarding their respective roles in the handling of public money. Surely, Ribadu cannot be taken seriously. He has developed into a quantity of tragic proportions. And the tragic posture of which Ribadu and the EFCC are now an embodiment has once more been on display, this time, in places like Ekiti and Plateau. Like Alhaji Gwobe rightly said..........the treatment being meted out to his like.Al Mustapha awaits Nuhu.......he started well, but inspite of his zeal and principles, has to dance to the tune of the Piper.....both the tune and the different steppings:cool: In a show of shame reminiscent of the ‘coups d’état’ in Bayelsa and Oyo, Nuhu Ribadu has arrested sitting legislators of Ekiti and Plateau states, supposedly on charges of corruption. These legislators have virtually been held incommunicado. They have been intimidated and forced to start impeachment proceedings against their respective state governors whom Ribadu and his boss consider as embezzlers. It is said that sometimes tragedy presents itself as farce. This was the case a few days ago when, discarding any pretense of legality and the rule of law, Ribadu’s EFCC dragged eight members of the Plateau state legislature whom they had been holding to Jos, under heavy police escort,. Six of the legislators, out of a 24-member House, were forced to start impeachment proceedings against the state governor, Joshua Dariye! This smacks of utmost disdain for constitutionality and the Nigerian people. This is how The Guardian reported the tragedy in Jos: “EIGHT of the 24-member Plateau State House of Assembly yesterday breezed into the Assembly Chambers and declared that they were holding a valid legislative meeting. When has the govt of the day respected the rule of law or followed the constitution, talkless of Nuhu the runaway train? The govt since inception had and still does show contempt/disdain for the Nigerian people.........Abi who are you re? What we have is Political-Gangsterism..........all caution has been thrown to the wind.............their greed has made them Mad and Leprosed

Palamedes  # 10 | 08.10.2006 13:43

Bunch17, I have read the article twice but, Sir, every one, it seems, have their own interpretation of 'due process' and it is this common interpretation that I referred to rather harshly. I am sure you know the phrase 'state or defence witness', and it is perfectly legal. You can be held for a simple traffic offence or tax problem, and it is up to you whether you want to cooperate with the law or not? Beside high profile state defence are normally held in incommunicado for their own security. So, who is bordered if these legislators decided to cooperate with EFCC to save their bacon? However, some will still make a fuss about the absence of due process as they interpret it. How are these people sure that EFCC is not following 'due process' under the Nigerian constitution? EFCC should be more pragmatic and not get hang-up on the common interpretation of 'due process'. With regard to that thieving (expletives deleted) Dariye, Sir, surely you are not saying that the accusation and arrest and jumping of bail for money laundering offence in London is false? That his false declaration of assets and thievery are lies? Surely you are not suggested that EFCC allow this thieving (expletives deleted) to continue to blunder the state fund. This would be like allowing a gunman in a school to continue his killing spree whilst the lawyers debate about 'due process'. This coward sent women and children, I repeat, women and children to surround the state assembly, calculating that the police would treat women and children kindlier than men. How is 16 (two-third of 24) for impeachment possible when out of the 24 assembly members: 16 had gone into hiding to avoid reconvening the state assembly, presumable the same 16 that had defected and crossed carpet from PDP to ACD--unconstitutionally. Even the British and the Americans are not terribly concerned about common interpretation of due process as we do. There are terrorist suspects in their jails without charges. The FBI would still be fighting a losing battle with the Mafia today, if she were hang-up on common interpretation of due process in the early 1900s. I think, we should colour code criminal offences, and the colour 'red'--- the highest, should be reserved for serial embezzlers, extortionist, money launders, serial murderers, and paedophiles. Call it the 'red crimes'. The law on 'red crimes' should be less stringent to make it much easier to take the criminals out. I repeat, Extreme problem situation calls for extreme solution to stabilize it.

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