DYING FOR NIGERIA
Sonala Olumhense

Nuhu Ribadu is right.  Nigeria is worth dying for. 

But let us be clear what dying really means, because there are many who are dying for Nigeria already.  Many die because of poor drinking water, or lack of food or medicine.   They are shot by armed robbers. They are crushed by political hypocrisy.  They die because of our roads.  They are killed as they wait for justice. 

There are many more that are denied life, or life in Nigeria, by a dearth of opportunity.  Some die to Nigeria: giving it up for any other life, anywhere else.   There are some in Nigeria who die in spirit long before their bodies give up: marginalized people in a society that does not acknowledge character or integrity.

As an admirer of the courage of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, I praise his conviction that if necessary, he would die for Nigeria in the battle against corruption.  This memo is a reminder that, although his cause is just and his strength remarkable, there are men, women and children whose only possession is hope.  Some of that hope is in institutions such as the EFCC.

But does Ribadu understand?  Is it clear to him why Citizen Nigerian holds the EFCC and the so-called war against corruption in suspicion?  I do not think so. 

Our nation is recognized as a very corrupt nation.  The coming of the anti-graft agencies is also recognized as one of the few steps forward in the last eight years.  The concern is that the EFCC has offered considerably less than it promised.  Perhaps one can rephrase that: Mr. Ribadu has not fulfilled the high expectations he has consistently promised.  There is often an uncomfortable dissonance between his blustery assertions and what the Commission is actually doing. 

Recently, for instance, the EFCC arrested a teacher of the National Teachers’ Institute for defrauding some students of the Distance Learning Centre in Lagos of over N6million.  This is good work, but examined closely, cases like this really speak of the EFCC’s weakness, not its strength.  They underline how little the Commission is hurting corruption where it matters.  Citizen Nigeria is still waiting for the EFCC to make a true mark on corruption at the highest levels. 

Let us be reminded that Mr. Ribadu built his formidable image partly on his opposition to corruption in the executive branch of government.  He routinely expressed his frustration about the constitutional immunity that enabled several corrupt governors known to avoid prosecution, and stressed how ready he was to stop many corrupt people from running for office in 2007.  He warned serving governors the Commission was waiting for May 29, 2007 when they would revert to regular citizens. 

That transition arrived four months ago.  Where are the fireworks?  Where is the fire and brimstone he suggested would be visited on them?  We can count on the fingers of one hand the number of former governors that have seen a courtroom, let alone a jail cell.  Whatever happened to those thick files of ignominy and sin? 

The EFCC “delay” has turned into a major advantage for these men.  While Citizen Nigerian waited for the EFCC to open up the fireworks, some of them conveniently vanished underground.  Others are growing so bold and confident they are pre-empting the Commission in court.  This should not be surprising: our people say that if a bird spends too long on a tree, it will be found either by rain or sun.  I have heard the disingenuous idea of obtaining every shred of evidence relating to every corrupt act of a particular former governor before he is charged, but there is no reason to believe it.

And then it gets more complicated.  Last week in New York last week, Mr. Ribadu bristled at a suggestion that Olusegun Obasanjo and former Works Minister Anthony Anenih be investigated for corruption.  He explained there are worse people when it came to corruption than these two.

Now, if there are such big fishes in these murky waters, who are they?  What has the EFCC done about them?  Take away a few governors and all we hear are promises of big things to come.  How is it that 20 or 25 former governors still have doubt on their side in the eyes of the Commission?

I am convinced the EFCC is not doing the best it can: openly and fairly, and with complete transparency.  Mr. Ribadu did not help his cause when he said in New York that anyone that has something against Obasanjo should come forward. 

“There are worse criminals than Obasanjo and Anenih,” he said.  “People should be asking that such criminals should be brought to justice rather than Obasanjo.”

Be careful, Mr. Ribadu.  In effect, a man launches a “war” against corruption, but the machinery is good enough only to be used in the same war against others less corrupt than he? 

This explains why some people believe that the EFCC is discriminatory in its assignment.  Mr. Ribadu’s unfortunate point is the same one Obasanjo adopted about Ibrahim Bademasi Babangida (IBB), about whom he said he had found nothing corrupt, in 2001.  But IBB was his key supporter.  When it came to Sani Abacha, his former jailer, Obasanjo was able to find Naira and kobo in countries you did not know were on the map.  In any case, Mr. Ribadu has spoken about how corrupt IBB is—which contradicts Obasanjo—yet while Ribadu is in New York assailing corruption, IBB is in Nigeria enjoying unbelievable affluence and influence. 

Perhaps Mr. Ribadu may want to speak a little more slowly, so he can hear himself, and retain the support of people like myself.  In the EFCC’s report to the National Assembly on the Petroleum Trust Development Commission, it is interesting that the EFCC was willing to accept all the claims made by the President against Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.  But it similarly ignored the allegations against Obasanjo.  In many cases, Atiku’s office even published photocopies of cancelled cheques that demonstrate Obasanjo’s complicity.  What evidence sounds good to the EFCC?

Perhaps Obasanjo will be found not to be corrupt.  And the EFCC, not Obasanjo, is not the focus of this piece.  But we cannot access the future if we do not understand the past, or tell the truth.  What of the billions of Naira paid into the Obasanjo/Atiku Campaign in 2003, part of it with the illegal collusion of Corporate Nigeria?  What of the N8.5 billion he received for the Presidential Library while in office, much of it from questionable sources?  Would Obasanjo’s Transcorp transgressions, had they been committed by Mr. Atiku, escaped the EFCC?  How can Mr. Ribadu expect to find what he is not interested in?  By the way, is abuse of office of any interest here?

I have a few suggestions as the way on corruption stalls and our looting champions get on with the task of enjoying life in exotic foreign villas.  The first is that the EFCC chairman must emphasize the EFCC more, and Mr. Ribadu, less.  His greatest legacy would be an increasingly stronger Commission, not a more powerful chairman.  Among other things, the Commission must provide for the families of its operatives who die in action. 

Second, there has been no true continuation of the EFCC’s work under the current government.  Since many of the former governors at the frontline of the anti-graft effort are the President’s personal friends, it is easy to assume the President is not serious.  The EFCC must remind the President of this perception.  It is a tragedy the President seems satisfied only with the declaration of assets of four or five people.   

Third, Mr. Ribadu continues to claim that $2 billion of Abacha’s stolen $6billion Naira has been recovered.  There is no sign of those funds, and the EFCC would do well to obtain from Finance Minister Nenad Usman the “investigation” into them she promised earlier this year.   

Fourth, I recall that last March, the House of Representatives asked the EFCC to account for all monies and assets it has recovered, as well as donations received, since it came into law.  The Commission must lead by example, and the House, by continuity. 

Nigerians are dying for a genuine war.  It must be one in which they can participate and be happy to die for their country.

Robot  Villager

# 1 DYING FOR NIGERIA Sonala Olumhense Nu...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 30.09.2007 07:03

peterclaver2006  Villager

# 2 Well said, S.O. The pity about Ribadu’s pretension is that he thinks he can hoodwink us to believe he is fighting corruption when he appears with the least prompting as Obasanjo’s mouthpiece. He fools only those that choose to be fooled and no me. Ribadu is morally bankrupt, waffling so much convenient arguments whenever it suits him to explain away his inadequacies. Who are these people that are more corrupt than Anenih and Obasanjo Ribadu must catch before he sets upon these two human faces of corruption? This was a man that told the senate as his duplicitous services to Obasanjo ran over, that he was only answerable to the President. Just the other day, as the contradictions in his hunting business for Obasanjo threatened to run over, he executed a complete about-turn to say he is now only answerable to the National Assembly. Remember his shameful equivocations about Bode George, Andy Uba, Alao Akala, Adedibu, Transcorp and so many other acts he is trying desperately to cover? The fact is that Ribadu is rather destroying every available evidence against the pests that ate away our eight years (1999 to 2007). Ribadu operates under the given standard of Obasanjo never being corrupt despite the mountain of corruption that buffets that dubious sly character at every turn. The reason why it shoveled under all the weighty acts of indiscretion against Obasanjo in the PTDF scam, like the multi-billion Naira sorties Bodunde Adeyanju ran for the Mobutu of Ota, the donation of cars to Obasanjo’s concubines, the MOFAS account for which Mobutu has never offered any explanation once Otunba Fashawe sang, the N250million Company Registration scam, the $125million for a university in the Atlantic Ocean, etc, etc, etc. Rather, Ribadu that has the findings of the PTDF scandal written for him before he started that witch-hunting business, was able to find out that the money Mike Adenuga used to pay for the GLO license was the marked PTDF money. Remember his vile roles in the political fraud that landed us in the present government of fraudulent legitimacy? He is deepening and entrenching corruption through his double-facedness in prosecuting those that looted our eight years oil windfall. We may still be tolerating Ribadu because this is Nigeria where guile and deception are still accepted as the face of governance but any further day Ribadu stays as EFCC chairman worsens the case of corruption in Nigeria. He is patently dishonest, irredeemably fraudulent and morbidly tied to Obasanjo’s corrupt interests that he cannot do anything against the decibel of corruption, which has become so intractable in Nigeria despite the hollow, amusing joke of reducing corruption. Ribadu reminds me of the dogs Comrade Napoleon used to hunt his enemies in Animal Farm and he is no more than that. He smells so badly despite the syndicated deodorant he wears about. His futile vow of ready to die for Nigeria is a conman's vow. He should have said he can die for Obasanjo as all his actions portend and not insult Nigeria with his streile and self-serving vow. Posted by peterclaver2006| 30.09.2007 10:00

akuluouno  Villager

# 3 I have always been wary of how the man parades himself like a peacock in heat, all over the globe wasting tax payers money and earning himself cheap popularity by painting Nigeria and Nigerians as the most corrupt people on planet earth. Methinks he believes "Le EFCC cest moi". It seems the man is more interested in self adulation and demagougrey rather than institutionalising a process of deterring fraudsters and grand scale looters using due process. Those who die daily for Nigeria and who will die for Nigeria never mouth their intention. Or is this do or die affair not another line from his mentor and the former father of modern Nigeria. :D:D:D:D Posted by akuluouno| 30.09.2007 11:33

dapxin  Villager

# 4 I have to agree S.O. This is a spot-on assessment of the war on corruption, to use EFCC's cliche. You have simply painted a montage of the worrying EFCC/Ribadu setup to date. Ok, give it to the man, he's driven along that lonely stretch of road, carrying the wrestling ring of Nigeria vs the Crooks, but it doesn't appear he can/shall survive the trip anymore. For one thing, he is too visible in the media. Although, I concede this was psychologically advantageous at the start, it is becoming too much of "enu lasan" to everyone sane enough to despise the level of corruption in our system. Again, as you analysed, Oga Ribadu has made it all too personal, so much that most people subconsciously see things as a Ribadu vs. them kind of a game. The EFCC has made all the noise it needs to make. What the people wants to see, indeed urgently, is more court cases against the entire generation of amoebas' so patently sold to the idea of bringing the house down, with all of us hapless citizens. Also, I don't undertand the use of Plea Barganing with the EFCC. It all reduces everything - the anticipation, the shock, the legal fireworks(???), the nausating feeling you get at the stolen billions, everything - to a fine piece of baba sala type movie...in one word, laughable! I dare say, many people are already giving up on Ribadu and he needs to avoid paparazi stunts and get the comission into the real deal. I fear for Nigeria & us. Posted by dapxin| 30.09.2007 14:08

Frisky Larr  Villager

# 5 Gentlemen, It is indeed shocking at what level some people reason in this NVS. The article itself started and fed on Ribadu-bashing only to acknowledge the following at its tail end: Second, there has been no true continuation of the EFCC’s work under the current government. Since many of the former governors at the frontline of the anti-graft effort are the President’s personal friends, it is easy to assume the President is not serious. The EFCC must remind the President of this perception. It is a tragedy the President seems satisfied only with the declaration of assets of four or five people. When these four sentences summarize the true state of affairs, why must Ribadu remain the focus of stone-throwings? How much power does Ribadu have against a President that is not keen on supporting him? Even in the previous dispensation of selective prosecution, there was deterrence against corruption. No one knew who would be next. This momentum has not been carried along. How does Ribadu's presence in the media impact on this? To the writer and all others who have commented so far, I commend you all for recognizing that the problem of Nigeria today is not corruption but Nuhu Ribadu. I guess you will all wake up to the reality only after Nigeria has finally collapsed to its roots. Jesus! Posted by Frisky Larr| 30.09.2007 15:40

tonsoyo  Villager

# 6 We need to realize that Ribadu is operating in a completely hostile environment, fighting corruption the hydra and Medusa headed monster in a country like Nigeria-that thrives on corruption is an Herculean task. Even those who put him there does not really want to see him succeed in all cases. That is a tough battle. Regarding your complaint that we have not seen much from him since this administration took over and the erstwhile Governors lost immunity, the reasons are obvious to the objective minds. The first signal we got from the inception of this administration was that Ribadu's exit was a forgone conclusion. Even people and the media were already speculating on his likely successor. Almost all the major newspapers in Nigeria wrote about it. How do you expect him to perform under such distractive atmosphere and circumstances. I think they let him stay because they discovered that the move was not in tune with the feelings of most Nigerians and the international community. They had to re strategize. Hardly had the dust of his removal settled down that the arrogant and megalomanic AG came out swinging that the EFCC must be subjected to his control by all means, then the cries from the masses of Nigeria and legal luminaries started again. They once again had to re strategize, because Ribadu must be silenced without rocking the boat, his subjects of investigations sponsored the fraud of an election of the President. Then the "voodoo" AG came out with "Ruse of law" theory again to silence this poor commission. Haba an agency that should be hunting the rogues amongst us has become the hunted. How do you want him to succeed when the signals are clear from his bosses that hey, some area are no-go areas? And we have Kalu-Must-Remain-Free for an Attorney General? Yes, the transition arrived four months ago, and EFCC has been under fire since then from the powers that be. Ribadu had never failed for once to acknowledge the efforts of all the young men that have been working with him at the risk of their lives. He told us recently that EFCC is not about Ribadu, that 8 of those young heroes working with him, have been assassinated so far. How come non of our "corruption aversed writers" has written anything about cutting down these rising stars in their prime, but are fixated on Ribadu. The point is that in the subconsciousness of most Nigerians we are aware that Ribadu is the issue, he is synonymous with EFCC, this is why attempts were made to remove him, so they rogue-leaders can have a toothless EFCC of their dreams! Ribadu does not owe us a duty to make public the account of EFCC, it may actually be a way for some of the rogues to assess its strength and seek to undermine it. It is also not the duty of Ribadu to monitor how stolens funds recovered by the government is spent. Except in the face of new allegation backed up by proof of mismanagement. Why should he constitute himself to Chairperson of Appropriation Committee and monitor govermental spendings has suggested by you? If anybody genuinely wants to know how our money is being spent, including that of the EFCC, he/she should support the campaign for FOI Bill and leave Ribadu alone. Again he has demonstrated the will and the ability to fight corruption, all we need to do is to back him up. Let us make it clear to the powers that be, that we have confidence in Ribadu, he should be given the free hand to work, the he will get us the desired results, I have no doubt about that. Our constant criticism of this guy will give the rogues an excuse to remove him, which is what I believe some of us working for some interests are actually trying to achieve. Remove Ribadu today, you will kill the morale of those other Nigerians with his frame of mind to fight corruption, then we as well forget fighting corruption in Nigeria, since we will be back to square one. Precisely where we were before Ribadu, when anything goes, but these days the fear of Ribadu is the beginning of wisdom. Posted by tonsoyo| 30.09.2007 15:58

dapxin  Villager

# 7 =Frisky Larr;20915297>Gentlemen, It is indeed shocking at what level some people reason in this NVS. The article itself started and fed on Ribadu-bashing only to acknowledge the following at its tail end: Second, there has been no true continuation of the EFCC’s work under the current government. Since many of the former governors at the frontline of the anti-graft effort are the President’s personal friends, it is easy to assume the President is not serious. The EFCC must remind the President of this perception. It is a tragedy the President seems satisfied only with the declaration of assets of four or five people. When these four sentences summarize the true state of affairs, why must Ribadu remain the focus of stone-throwings? How much power does Ribadu have against a President that is not keen on supporting him? Even in the previous dispensation of selective prosecution, there was deterrence against corruption. No one knew who would be next. This momentum has not been carried along. How does Ribadu's presence in the media impact on this? To the writer and all others who have commented so far, I commend you all for recognizing that the problem of Nigeria today is not corruption but Nuhu Ribadu. I guess you will all wake up to the reality only after Nigeria has finally collapsed to its roots. Jesus! Your excellency, It is such a shame we are all boxed to one corner, so much that we are constantly having to choose the lesser of two evils. I believe there are people who don't subscribe to Ribadu's methods or seriousness, but that shouldn't take away his gallantry efforts so far. No one - well, at least me- is about to label Ribadu as the root problem of Nigeria. The bottomline is we have on our hands a rotten system which one way or the other churns out disgusting odour. Until, we figure out a way of redrawing the entire namespace called Nigeria.... people like Nuhu Ribadu are up for an unwinnable war. Given all of these, I still think we deserve far more prosecutions, and maybe far less newspaper quotations than we are getting. How well Alhaji Yaradua can stop him in the face of credible evidence is, IMO debatable....I dare say negligible. Again, I fear for us. Posted by dapxin| 30.09.2007 18:12

JAGA-JAGA  Villager

# 8 The corruption war can never be won by speeches, period. The series of unwarranted attack on Ribadu makes me laugh at what some members of NVS think about fighting corruption, especiaciilay in Nigeria where it has taken root since independence. Ribadu is not the problem of corruption and if I was in the shoes of the young man I would vacate the office and laugh at the final out come of the corruption war. The root of our present corruption war predicament begins and ends at UMYA's table. Just as OBJ did during his own corruption war, mostly corrupt political enemies were indicted by EFCC. Non of those indicted by EFCC during OBJ's tenure can claim innocent of the various crime attributed to them. However, the draw back has been that OBJ targeted mostly his political enemies who are also corrupt by using the EFCC as it's attack dog. For this war to have meaning, UMYA must first make the war have teeth but his current pronouncements with that of the AGF does not inspire confidence in the corruption war. The plan as I see it, is to make EFCC a toothless bull dog that would only bark but not bite. EFCC would operate the way UMYA wants it to and there is no two way about that. I have a saying by the rabbit which goes thus" If I receive an invitation as an elder, I would attend with my mustache but if the invitation is like a baby I would go with my tail". What I trying to point out is that UMYA is compromised with his AG based on the support he received from these corrupt politicians who funded and smuggled him into office. I do not see how he could extricate himself from this burden. No one can be deceived by his cosmetic pronouncements, "I can meet whith whoever that is a Nigerian". Has he been meeting the poor people except the corrupt and the rich who brought him to power? What plans does he have for the prisoners and the prison congestions, armed robbery that is rampant, total insecurity of life and property and many more key issues that require urgent attention? Rather he has been meeting with all sorts of corrupt policticians since assumption of office. Well the offsprings of a snake must have long tails. Finally, I remember during the third republic when IBB told the then elected members of the national assemblies on the no go areas to legislate upon. He specifically instructed them to only legislate on Museums and Monuments and nothing more. It appears that's the way EFCC is to operate under this government. Under OBJ at least corrupt political enemies where attacked, we are yet to see which ones would be atttacked under UMYA. The way NVS members are going about the corruption war debate it appears as if there is a personnal score to settle with Ribadu, I hope not. On the contary, Ribadu is not the issue, the issue is higher than Ribadu and ends at UMYA's table. I hope some members of NVS have no ex-Governors or corrupt politicans under EFCC investigation as friends? I hope not!:cool::cool: Posted by JAGA-JAGA| 01.10.2007 00:46

Profegee  Villager

# 9 I am beginning to doubt the capability of Ribadu in the EFCC war against financial crimes and corruption. For goodness sake, who wrote a petition against senate leadership under Wabara on alleged N55million bribery; but the same commision finds it hard (or impossible) to do something on the N628million saga rocking the House of Representatives. I think my theory on Ribadu's modus operandi is that whoever commits economic crimes or other form of corruption is immune to investigation let alone invitation or arrest in as much such person belongs to the caucus of OBJ. This to me explains why OBJ, Bode George, Alao-Akala, Adedibu, "Patty" Etteh, Andy Uba, etc are not under the searcg light of EFCC. Does it mean that if there's no formal petition against a glaring crime EFCC is not empowered by the law to wade in? Ribadu has proven to be a mere public speaker. Maybe he would do better as master of ceremony. Of all the heads of detectives ever come across or read about, I think Ribadu is the most vocal or noisy. Yes, he has done so much to fight scammers, Yahoo! Boyz, and other 'small scale' theives while the large scale looters and robbers in the governments are pursued based on instructions from above. That explains why the seemingly redundant ICPC under Mustapha Akanbi is now doing marvelously well under Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola. On the issue of dying for Nigeria, Ribadu is not the first to state his preparedness or willingness, OBJ also said so before he was asked by the court of public opinion to rather die for himself and his family. He cannot shift the blame for inefficiency on the AGF, because both of them are working for their "masters". Posted by Profegee| 01.10.2007 03:59

Frisky Larr  Villager

# 10 Profegee, Just cut that crab sir! I guess given the opportunity, your type would even find axes to grind with Tunde Idiagbon or Murtala Muhammed. These are the two noble achievers Nigeria has ever had but they were not recognized at the right time. Olusegun Obasanjo has done quite a lot for Nigeria but his arrogant personality and moderate sense of corruption seems to be marring him more than his achievements. Now we have Nuhu Ribadu, a man with much guts operating in a difficult constitutional environment with very many achievements in his favor and all people in the NVS do is to fault him with many far-fetched grievances. Corruption is no longer our problem it is simply Ribadu and his media posturing (as the other fellow contends). Folks, please cut that crab. Tired of hearing these rants! Posted by Frisky Larr| 01.10.2007 07:12

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