It
pains me to see great Minds and Scholars going
Senile; it pains me more to see good Journalists
thinking anti-clockwise. Reasoning and Intelligence
have been sacrificed on the altar of ego and selfish
interest. Critics are just being critical not
because they have sound reasons but because they
have been infected with ‘Pull-Me-Down’ Syndrome.
They throw Yabis just because their vomit will be
swallowed by their points’ men in the media. An
adage says rightly that ‘who pays the piper dictates
the tune’. This is evident in many write-ups that
followed the selection of Ribadu as a participant in
SEC 30 at NIPSS. In a Country blessed with
qualitative human resources that are celebrated all
over the world while many call the shots in Science,
Technology, Medicine, Engineering, Economy and other
related fields in other Countries; these media men
and gladiators sought to deitify a person to an
extent that such a man can not or should not be sent
on an improvement course which is a normal routine
in the Military and Para-Military.
I wonder on the kind of thoughts permeating through
the minds and heads of these men. There is no doubt
or disagreement on the performance of Ribadu or to
the great contribution he has made towards
eradicating corruption in our Country. Ribadu’s
anti-corruption stand is well known and has created
a good image for Nigeria in the comity of Nations
but should he be there permanently. Ribadu has done
well, not perfect; he has used some arm twisting
tactics that do not conform to the rule of law which
is a contradiction to the anti-corruption crusade.
Yet, Ribadu has scored above average in performance
and can be given excellent grade. I am proud of him
and wish him well. But let us pause and think as a
Nation. Can Ribadu achieve all he has achieved
without the cooperation of his principal (the
President of Nigeria) that appointed him and gave
him the path to thread and the direction to pursue!
Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo gave Ribadu the chance to
perform despite the non-qualification of Ribadu at
the time of appointment. He was an Assistant
Commissioner of Police while the EFCC act stipulates
Assistant Inspector General of Police. Ribadu’s
media men did not quote the provisions of the EFCC
Act as at then because it favors them; it was
treated as if not important. Change is the only
thing on earth that is permanent and in any position
one holds change is imminent for good or bad. We all
pray for good changes. If Ribadu is a team-player,
EFCC would have been so nurtured to the extent that
without Ribadu, EFCC will still run as if he is
there. A team-player does not take sole-credit for
satisfactory services. The hullabaloo raised on
Ribadu’s selection by the Inspector General of
police for normal Police Course is uncalled for.
Nigerian Constitution is greater than an Act created
by the powers derived from the Constitution. By that
Constitution, the President is empowered to appoint
or remove an appointee. The President has not told
us that he has removed Ribadu from EFCC but has only
approved a course of training for him. The Inspector
General of Police, Mike Okiro is mni; having passed
the course at NIPSS and he is a better Police as a
member of the National Institute. Ribadu’s primary
constituency is the Police and most if not all AIGs
have gone to the National Institute for training; so
what is good for others must be good for Nuhu Ribadu.
If Ribadu is truly a patriot of the high order, with
great dedication to duty and love for his Country,
Nigeria; he should jump at an opportunity in doing a
course at the National Institute where he can
contribute his quota to Policies and formulation of
Strategies. War against Corruption must be wholesome
not selective or sectional. It is the height of
corruption to get what you do not deserve at a point
in time. God never classified ‘Sin’. A sin is a sin
with God; no small sin or big sin. So also
corruption has many facets. Corrupt enrichment can
come in various forms. It is not only through
diversion of resources, financial gains or fraud; it
could be through unmerited / undeserved promotion or
undue advantage at work or business. Ribadu needs to
undergo some courses in-line with his designation as
AIG and that is the reason for asking him to go for
NIPSS program at Kuru. Officers lobby to be included
for the program in the National Institute. I commend
President Umaru Yar’Adua for assenting the IG’s
recommendation. Ribadu has set up a high tempo in
the EFCC, and others can sustain it until he gets
back. Even if he does not, other eminent Nigerians
can perform better. Ribadu got the opportunity at
EFCC to showcase what he can do, so without an
opportunity you can not know what others can do or
not do. I am sure out there, is another patriotic
Nigerian only waiting to be given a chance and
Nigerians will be pleasantly surprised. War against
corruption has started; it can only get fiercer but
never to diminish.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES
(NIPSS OR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE)
Many people that reacted against the recommendation
of Ribadu to attend a Course at the National
Institute are ignorant of the make-up of the place.
‘The Nigerian Nation had foreseen the need for
qualitative in-put into national policy making
process in 1979 with the establishment of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
(NIPSS or the National Institute), Kuru, near Jos,
Plateau State. The Institute was conceived to be a
high level centre for reflection, research and
learning with the primary objectives of serving as
the nation’s foremost policy “Think-Tank”, of high
intellectual Capacity that will conceptualize and
anchor the implementation of innovative and dynamic
policy initiatives and strategies, critical for
national development’.
Anti-corruption crusade is critical for our national
development so it is important for Ribadu as
chairman of EFCC to attend the National Institute.
His research at the Institute will be based on
policies and strategies to eradicate corruption from
the Country not just to fight it. This essential
training is part of those stipulated in the EFCC
Act. Ribadu’s choice of study can be in tune with
certain difficulties he has been facing in his war
against corruption. NIPSS has a course of Study for
Economy and Good Governance. There could be no good
governance with corrupt leaders and followers; so
Ribadu is not out of tune with the program in the
National Institute. Nigerians should imbibe building
up Institutions based on their Goals, Aims and
Objectives and not personalities. Persons must be
commended for good deeds but not over and above the
Institutions they represent. Building Institutions
on Personalities is a form of Corruption. I thank
Ribadu for his maturity in accepting to attend the
National Institute. God disposes all plans and he
should be grateful for the opportunity God has given
him to serve his Country and enabled him to perform
creditably well. Ribadu’s name will be written in
gold as he becomes ideal Role-Model to younger ones.
