Ribadu's Removal Is Long Overdue?

Col Abubakar Umar is a man whom I know stood up against the injustice of the IBB regime even when a lot of MEN went into hiding.

Ribadu soiled his hands with OBj's dirty, childish bickering only OBJ's enemies were corrupt. Case study: Bode George who was former NPA chair. He has lost all integrity and should leave immediately.

Akunyili with all her good works got involved too thats why the Amala politician though senile told the whole world how she came to kneel down for ministerial nomination and she could not give any effective reply. Adedibu is mad but I have just been wondering why we have no decent reply from NAFDAC.

Summary Ribadu's sack is fully supported. 

MY PEOPLE NO ONE IS SAYING RIBADU IS A SAINT, BUT COL UMAR IS NOT ANY BETTER THAN HE IS. HE SUGGESTS RIBADU SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED WHEN HE DISCOVERED OBASANJO'S PLOT HOW COME HE DID NOT RESIGN WHEN HE WAS SERVING THE KING OF THIEVES IBB,   PERSONALLY I THINK RIBADU HAS DONE WELL, VERY FEW NIGERIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AS HE DID. HE MIGHT BE AN INSTRUMENT BUT ALL THE PEOPLE HE INDICTED WERE CURROPT OR WERENT THEY?   

Guess you don't know who Col Umar was. This was a man serving Colonel who resigned when IBB annulled the June 12 elections.
(Noble Act that is rare in Nigeria while Ribadu could not resign the EFCC while OBJ was plundering the nation Now he comes out as the angel of anti corruption.)

In the Military this is a serious thing to do considering he is a junior officer to IBB and he was very vocal against IBB, Abacha and OBJ when most of  his colleagues, politicians soldiers were scared to say the truth and kissing Abacha and OBJ's boots including Ribadu who was a known OBJ ass kisser.

@ angel,
Jump off a sinking boat? How many military men did that in 1993 and how many of them "Sank" That is the noblest of act.

whatever dey like let them say nd do. dammy's own is that one day ll come 4 all of them
one day 4 obasanjo
one day 4 yaradua
, one day 4 nuhu ribadu
nd one day too 4 efcc as a whole.

BigB1,

Did you read this:

http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/08/01/20080107nigeria.htm


Statement of US. Senator Russ Feingold
On the Removal of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman
Janaury 7, 2008

Washington D.C. – Today, US. Senator Russ Feingold, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, made the following statement in the wake of the removal of Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of Nigeria’s Eonomic and Financial Crimes Commission, from office:

“Despite running on a platform of “zero tolerance” for corruption and promising across the board improvements in governance, Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua has already failed to live up to this commitment during his first eight months in office. The most recent example of President Yar’Adua’s inconsistencies in combating Nigeria’s endemic corruption is the removal of Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), despite a record of successful prosecutions. With a number of critical cases underway, the EFCC should not be gutted. The US. government must not coddle leaders like President Yar’Adua if they demonstrate an inability or unwillingness to improve democratic infrastructure and defend human rights. The Bush Administration should make it clear to the Nigerian president that the US. does not support Ribadu’s removal and that, in the interest of promoting transparency and the rule of law, all existing investigations and prosecutions should continue to move forward as planned.”

Feingold also wrote to Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua outlining his concerns. His letter is below.

The Honorable Umaru Yar’Adua
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Office of the President
Aso Rock Villa, Asokoro District
Abuja, Nigeria

January 7, 2008

Dear Mr. President,

As the Chairman of the Senate Africa Subcommittees, I have visited Nigeria and closely follow developments in your country because I am keenly aware of its strategic significance to the United States and in Africa. As one of the continent’s most populous and prosperous countries, Nigeria has long been a role model in Africa, not least for its return to democracy after sixteen years of military rule. I was therefore extremely disappointed by the seriously flawed general elections last April, but was encouraged by your pledge to improve governance with “zero tolerance” for corruption.

I was pleased to hear that while in Washington, D.C., last month, you reiterated your commitment to transparency, accountability, and rule of law as essential preconditions for Nigeria’s social and economic development. Unfortunately, I have not yet seen demonstrable evidence of progress in these areas; on the contrary, recent events suggest that Nigeria is backsliding under your leadership.

I am particularly concerned by the recent announcement that Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, the esteemed Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has elected to step down from his post instead of accepting the reassignment to the yearlong management training course that was ordered last week. While ongoing training of government officials is important, mandating a year-long hiatus for the head of the EFCC while there are several significant pending anti-corruption cases calls into question the sincerity of your commitment to this issue. The EFCC has had unprecedented success in obtaining several high-level corruption convictions, and Mr. Ribadu has earned national and international acclaim for his leadership over the past five years.

While I deplore the transfer of Ribadu and would like to see him finish out the remainder of his term, if he does elect to step down from his current post, it is essential that his personal safety and security be guaranteed. In addition, Ribadu’s departure must not be used as a pretext to disband the EFCC or undermine its work. The recent charges filed by the Commission, including those against former Delta State Governor James Ibori, should be fully and transparently investigated and prosecuted.

You have repeatedly emphasized the positive impact of good governance on development, but political and economic gains go hand-in-hand. The legitimacy and credibility of your government, both at home and abroad, depend upon your consistent and observable commitment to combating corruption. In light of the recent upsurge in violence in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, it is even more imperative that your government exhibit the highest respect for rule of law at all levels of society. Failure to follow through on your policy of “zero tolerance” for corruption will fuel dissent among the Nigerian population and diminish confidence abroad.

Therefore, I urge you to do everything in your power to create the appropriate environment for both political and economic development by strengthening the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and empowering Mr. Ribadu, rather than sidelining him and potentially undermining the EFCC’s important work. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to reaffirm your personal commitment to democratic principles and practices and to solidify Nigeria as an example for other young democracies.

Sincerely,

Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator

@linuxuser
why do you think these western dudes have the authority over how we run our government here?
In as much as i am pro-western, recent events have shown that the corruption in this country is being aided by a lot of western organisations.

so Mr. Feingold can keep feigning ignorance and self-righteousness for all i care.
Ribadu's going to course was the right thing at the right time!

iyke-d,
if there must be an effective PR machinery,it only makes better administrative that the media battering is either out-sourced or delegated to an officer of competent rank.it doesnt behove for the chairman to take it upon himself to be the star at every press conference, wether na to yab a sitting governor or the arrest of a pick-pocket at oshodi.
the guy was a spot-light hungry monkey, good riddance to bad rubbish.

Ribadus removal, is good because we need too ask ourselves a very important question, which is are we building institutions or individuals? if we are building institutions then the people that work at those institutions will come and go, but if we are building institutions around indidvduals then we can't have a lasting change.

Why all the notice, if i were ribadu i will not mind any thing said, in two three years time Ribadu will surely laugh over all the things that are being said so Nigerians have better things to worry about than the removal of Nuhu Ribadu.

@ono:
I absolutely agree with you; too much continues to pop out day after day, indicating that Nigerian Michael Jackson (Ribadu) truly took us for a ride.
If it was up to me, Mr. Ribadu will be immediately arrested, probed and punished if necessary.

FYI: EFCC is still very active in Nigeria and functioning effectively and efficiently; you haven't heard much about this institution for 4 main reasons:
1. They are no longer being used as political tool.
2. It's no longer about a one man show, it's about accomplishing objectives together as a team (there is a team concept in place, which is mainly focused on building an institution and not just one entity).
3. The organization has stayed far away from politics and creating unnecessary confusion.
4. Finally, the organization is being managed by professionals who are not power hungry, but clearly understand the constitution of Nigeria.

I still think removing this coward is the best thing this current administration has done so far!

@Big B1, EFCC is very active and "functioning effectively and efficiently"? So what have they achieved since the removal then? Genuinely not trying to be a pain but i rather be fed with substance. If you are saying they are doing their job and we just have to what? Sit down and trust that this is happening? I am sorry but i just don't buy it. There should be transparency in government and until the usual suspects who have raped Nigeria are arrested and prosecuted, going after small time scammers won't fix the problem. You can't arrest robbers who work at night and leave the glorified daylight ones and serve that as any useful deterrent to the crime. Of course EFCC was always going to attract attention, they are/were supposed to be dealing with corruption which is a fundamental problem in Nigeria and are we now asking for a behind the scenes treatment whereby an unspecified ammount is "returned back" to government? The more open and public the shaming the better, as a deterrent for would be future offenders. I think it is high time we should just start sayin we no go gree. Transparency doesn't have to come at a compromise to effectivity and efficiency.

@sky Blue:

You're absolutely on point; in order to elevate this nation back to the top, we must definitely embrace transparency in Nigeria under all circumstances. But at the same time, this doesn't mean that EFCC is not being managed effectively and efficiently by professionals who understand the constitution of Nigeria.
EFCC is more focused today than 4 months ago and the best is still yet to arrive.