[size=14pt]I Am Running For President Now, Nigeria Can't Wait Till 2015- Nuhu Ribadu[/size]


Former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, has declared in a meeting with some media chiefs today in Abuja that he does not plan to wait till 2015 before remaking a new Nigeria. He shot back at political pundits who said he lacks the " experience"  to govern Nigeria. This is a raw transcript of the encounter.

Which platform will you use to contest for 2011 poll?

I will rather ask that you give me time please.

Are you still consulting?

Yes, I am still consulting but it is going to be very soon because there is no time. It is going to be very, very soon that we are going to make a decision on that. Like I said, my believe is that the possibility of all of us coming together must be exhausted full blast to see the chance for us to move a way in which we will give our country a platform that is going to be national.

Is the platform PDP or not?

Just wait.

Have you ever had any offer from PDP?

Never, never.

But which party?

It is not the time to make this thing out yet. There will be a lot of time to talk and so much to talk about PDP. We will educate Nigeria about PDP and what I consider the future of our country. I have a dream of a new Nigeria; I have the dream of a changed Nigeria. I want to see if there is a possibility of opening a new chapter, for the country. And those who are in charge somehow certainly need to give chance for the country to move forward.

As a former EFCC chairman, won’t those corrupt elements fight you back and prevent you from becoming the nation’s President?

I have always been fighting in my life. When I was in the Police Force, I fought armed robbers, I survived. I fought gangsters, I fought 419 fraudsters, big time corrupt people and I have survived. I am still standing as Nuhu Ribadu; I believe I will also survive this.

Can you confirm or deny that you have written to the Labour Party to be its presidential candidate?

No.

Are you carrying any party card now?

Not yet.

Are you planning to be President in 2011 or 2015?

For God’s sake, what is the issue about 2015? Are we yet there? Have we conducted the 2011 elections? How can you talk about 2015? You think the country should continue sleeping till 2015. You think that you are comfortable with the situation today. I love my country; Nigeria has no time to wait anymore.

Are you saying the old brigade politicians should give way?

My coming is going to be like the best Nigerian should come forward whether you are old or new or woman or man. It has to be all of us and I want to be part of that team that would certainly save our country and give it a new lease of life. I won’t want to categorize it as a generational thing. But certainly, you know what I am now, and if you want to judge it on the basis of that. I want to see the possibility of capturing the vision of majority of Nigerians who today are the young ones. And I certainly belong to that.

Aren’t you afraid of political Goliaths like President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-President Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Head of State Muhammadu Buhari and ex-VP Atiku Abubakar?

But David won goliath eventually. Pray that I will be the David.

Can you be more forthcoming on the elective post you are vying for in 2011?

What do you think I am fit for? I have always been a Federal person. I have experience in public service. I had put 25 years of my life into the service of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the Executive capacity. After that, of course, I served outside Nigeria. I have worked and acquired international experience. It is for you to decide where I fit in best.

Is it presidency?

Of course. What else because I have served 25 years of my life, I have given it to the nation. I had the chance to set up an agency (EFCC); I ran it for five years. I was in an Economic Team. I was a Federal Prosecutor, probably more than any other person in that capacity. I was a police officer, a community worker, I put all my life into public service at the Federal Government level. It is only natural for you to really put that into where the experience can best count.

What will be your number one priority if you become the President? Or, what are your priorities?

I want to remake Nigeria.

How?

I want to remake Nigeria. The point is: Remake means a new thing, a fresh thing, a fresh hub, a chance for us to love ourselves to build a nation out of our own country. I want to immediately, instantly provide those basic things. They are so important to us. I must insist that we must have security immediately, instantly there is no time to waste on that. I want to see that we can immediately solve the problem of power.

How can you address power problem?

I will do it; I will come out with my programme and policy. It is not something you can give in one word. I want to make a full stop to corruption finally. I want to ensure from now on that Nigerians are going to enjoy free and fair Education. I want to ensure that we will have good and decent hospitals. We will have hospitals, we don’t have to go out of the country and spend our money to build others like in India, Egypt and Ghana. Time has come for us to build our own. I want to make sure that this money that goes out as school fees that we go to pay in the UK, Ghana, and everywhere is going to stop immediately. We must have the schools that will give us the best in our own country. I want to see that Nigeria will be able to give jobs to its young ones. I want to see a Nigeria that probably will have the chance to industrialize. I want to see a Nigeria that will give justice to its own people; justice across; justice that can give a chance to us to have peace and stability for us to grow. I want to see the possibility of giving our country opportunity of equal treatment, fairness, respect to people. I want to see if it is possible for us to give a leadership that can listen; leadership that can take advice; leadership that is going to be collective.

In other words, I want a new Nigeria. A new Nigeria is possible and there is no time to waste at all. Like I said the detailed programmes will come out. We are going to be precise and very clear programmes and policies on how to go about it.

But the intention is there. Something is burning in all of us to save our own country. We love our country, we must fight for our country, we must work for our country. We want to bring out the energy in all of us and see if we can make a country that all of us will be proud of, a Nigeria that will be respected by the world, a Nigeria that will have a voice, a Nigeria that will play its own role assigned to it by God and destiny.

What of Nigerians in the Diaspora?

They must come in and participate fully because they constitute some of our best. Nigeria educated them, spent money on them.


http://www.saharareporters.com/interview/i-am-running-president-now-nigeria-cant-wait-till-2015-nuhu-ribadu

Its getting more interesting now.

OAM4J:

They must come in and participate fully because they constitute some of our best. Nigeria educated them, spent money on them.

When? Nuhu must be living under a rock.

If he runs with AC, he will LOSE. He needs an Eastern VP.

Its all about the timing, he should have come out earlier.His sudden declaration after the Northern meeting in the middle east is suspect.He has also not declared a party.Is he waiting to be told what party to join? Sincerely I think the north is throwing these guys in to even out the votes for IBB.Call it a conspiracy but its weird.Saraki an important 'Northern' politician has all of a sudden been disowned.It begs to wonder if they are not trying to seem obvious.What is truly the motive.I wonder.Soon the truth shall come out on that meeting they had.Let's be watching.If there was no ulterior motive why go and hold a meeting all the way in the middleeast?

Is this not the same man that said he would not run and should not be bothered with such questions? Abi all that na lie? Seriously, if he changes his mind and decides to run, I really hope Nigerians will tell him to go SHOVE it but then again, I am speaking to a nation filled with a majority lacking common self-respect.

Kobo, was there a time he said he was not running? cant remember reading anything like that.

^^
Yes he did.Something funny is going on.He may have a new God father that has given him backbone and a deal.Otherwise he would not dare contest where IBB nd Buhari are contesting.Something is definitely up.IBB is up to something.They know Ribadu appeals cos of his age nd past integrity so he is the perfect tool.This is puzzling nd interesting.

Kobojunkie:

Is this not the same man that said he would not run and should not be bothered with such questions? Abi all that na lie? Seriously, if he changes his mind and decides to run, I really hope Nigerians will tell him to go SHOVE it but then again, I am speaking to a nation filled with a majority lacking common self-respect.

Now I really have to say something about you. Does he not have the right to run for president? People change their mind so why is it a problem. In a true democracy, anyone should be able to run. Are you not part of the people who lack common self-respect and I must add common sense.

All I know is that Nuhu Ribadu now answers to the true puppet masters in Nigeria. Not the general, but the people who are very powerful. We all know who they are, but no one mentions their names.

^^Who is afraid of mentioning names? This is Internet. Spill the beans if there is any to spill.

Its IBB.They know they can use Nuhu to neutralize the effects of the southwest votes, as he appeals to Yoruba's.Who are the main threat.They will also try to put him up as the AC candidate.Just wait and see.I hope Nigerian's wake up and let go of the sentiments.No one should be holding secret meetings without declaring an intention.There is a secret strategy and Nigerian's should reject it.May the best man win.All this kuru kere is making me dislike Nuhu and feel stronger about GEJ.

Your conspiracy theory is still not making sense.

How will IBB benefit from Ribadu's entrance into the presidential race? especially if Ribadu joins AC.

How will that help IBB to win PDP primaries, which is the main obstacle before IBB now.

IBB can choose to run as an independent can he not? If the Yoruba votes go to Nuhu, IBB won't have to worry about them to win.The votes will be spread out and make it easy for him to compete on a more even platform.With Nuhu, Jonathan's presidency may not be as sure as it was.Yoruba's already prefer everything AC to PDP. Get it?

By throwing various characters like Nuhu and saraki.Jonathan will lose assured votes.Yoruba's in kwara may vote saraki, while other's may go with Nuhu.Now Jhonny nd IBB contest for the other regions, which is pretty much and even playfield.They already have the middlebelt under their thumb nd can rig it sucessfully.Some SS go to Jonathan, SE may be split.

Ribadu entrance is bad for IBB as it is for Jonathan, especially if Ribadu choses to pick his running mate from SE.

Agreed he will get most of the votes from SW, same will likely happen in SE and he will still get a good number of votes from the North. The entire North and SE are not guaranteed for IBB.

Also, remember if there is no clear winner, the election will be re conducted for the 1st 2.

The point is not Ribadu winning.Its about diminishing Jonathans votes.IBB already knows where his votes are assured.He's tryna weaken Jonathan.Very brilliant strategy by the way.Hope Yoruba's don't fall for this scam nd they throw a curveball for him.They are always the most unpredictable voters.

He may pick a Yoruba as his running mate.nd even if he doesn't,Yoruba's may still vote for him cos they think highly of him.

You are right. But I still think Yorubas that want to vote for PDP will still vote for Jonathan if he emerges and those for AC will still vote AC whether Ribadu is AC candidate or not.

Anyway, my thinking is that Ribadu entrance now is in preparation for 2015. he will most likely not win now, but might be the candidate to beat come 2015.

He's a hired hand now.they are using him and he is going to let them.Yoruba's will rather die than vote PDP. You think the other Yoruba states don't see what Fashola has done in Lagos?They think Nuhu is a Hausa Fashola.Ondo already belongs to LP nd they will rather vote an AC candidate than PDP.Even some PDP members.Yoruba's want change and someone that can bring it.They think Nuhu is a badass cop and a rebel.They love him.This is bad for Jonnathan.He has a lot of work to do.

Another minus for Jonathan is the terrible choice of OGD and AKALA as his campaign coordinators in their states.The people of those states despise this two.It doesn't seem as if Jonathan is serious about change or sensitive to the people's need.He has not even put his foot down on OGD.The members of the assembly are meeting in a classroom.He may want to spite IBB by using OGD in his campaign but he harmed himself cause OGD is already hated in Ogun.May be a double agent,and is damaged goods.

Good for the polity. Let the best man win!

Enough of fake landslide victory that brings complacency.

i'm tired of these so called progessives,Ribadu should declare asap !

Keep your month shut Yorubas would not vote for NuHu ribadu. Yorubas are going to RUN For President come 2011 and would vote for that Yoruba man. 

Look labour party won Ondo state, I can win the presidential election. and be the joint candidate of AC and labour. Look mimiko is call Iroko. tell him to support me, I am Okeya , I am kalakuta and I am kilimajaro.

I can be the join candidate of AC/labour. the most important thing is to win enough state to make a change only 18 state,   It state simple majority and 24 state with 1/3. I can

Becomrich0:

Keep your month shut Yorubas would not vote for NuHu ribadu. Yorubas are going to RUN For President come 2011 and would vote for that Yoruba man. 

Look labour party won Ondo state, I can win the presidential election. and be the joint candidate of AC and labour. Look mimiko is call Iroko. tell him to support me, I am Okeya , I am kalakuta and I am kilimajaro.

I can be the join candidate of AC/labour. the most important thing is to win enough state to make a change only 18 state,   It state simple majority and 24 state with 1/3. I can

I will consider you whenever you declare. . .but for now,my vote can never go to PDP

the more the northerners the easier it becomes for jonathan.

He should be GEJ's VP.

jumobi1:

He should be GEJ's VP.

what then becomes of Namadi Sambo?

God is abt doing great things in nigeria. a couple of months back, soludo was the hero of this backward jungle - nigeria and today the Fg is saying he is the course of our economic backwardness. somebody is telling nigerians lies either obasanjo decieved us via soludo or jonathan is lying against soludo.
if anyone here follows my comments, i mentioned this. solduo was a joker. all the loots of obasanjo's administration were done through solduo's bank solidifications. we had a reform that turned nigerian female graduates into official prostitutes and fools were rejoicing. at the end of the day, soludo was compensated with the anambra pdp gubernitorial ticket but the wonderful ppl of anambra said no to the devil and his colleagues.
today ribadu is on for the presidential race and two things are possible, either he is going to play his usual role as a tool of distraction in favour of his mentor and creator(obasanjo) who thru jonathan granted his presidential pardon or he has decided to be a man of his own and in that case, two many secrets are about to be revealed.
this nigeria under pdp of obasanjo is just a time bomb waiting to explode. one thing is sure, no matter how long it lasts, surely nigerians will not be fooled forever.
the God the took isrealites out of egypt, realease the iraqis from saddam will surely remember us.
obasanjo has sworn to die in power so we are watching.
at a time when other countries of this world are given chance to younger generations, nigerians believed a man who is old enough to retire form things of life and make amends with his God will remain in charge and backwardness has become our second name.
for me, let there be a free plat form for young generations like jonathan, ribadu and everyother young man who thinks well and not like these aged criminals.
just imagine bode george as an elder or a president and he is in jail over criminal charges. wow, nigerians elders are a course to this country.

Kobojunkie:

Is this not the same man that said he would not run and should not be bothered with such questions? Abi all that na lie? Seriously, if he changes his mind and decides to run, I really hope Nigerians will tell him to go SHOVE it but then again, I am speaking to a nation filled with a majority lacking common self-respect.

Dude/Biyytch are u on coke? Like do u "HAVE TO" type on here? Does MENTALgong have a Ruger to ur head insisting that u put something, anything, on here lest "it" turns ur brain to oatmeal? The (clearly) best candidate of all the aspirants should be told to "shove it". . . . . Man, u need to lay of that dope, boi!

EzeUche22:

. He needs an Eastern VP.

Hahahahahahahaha. lol. hehehehehhe. lol. Seems like someones been hanging out with Dave Chappelle, lately! lol

Gotta give it to ya tho, nice joke!

Ribadu listed his priorities as security; effective power supply; free education; sound medical facilities; and collective leadership.

He said: "I want to immediately provide those basic things. They are so important to us. I must insist that we must have security immediately, instantly; there is no time to waste on that. I want to see that we can immediately solve the problem of power.

I am wondering how anybody can "[size=14pt]immediately[/size]" or "[size=14pt]instantly[/size]" provide security, effective power supply, free education, sound medical facilities?
Why the wild and unfulfillable promises?

Nuhu! You de make me fear!