By Daniel Fayemi



Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the 2011 presidential election, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has expressed his disappointment over the rot in the country’s governance.

Ribadu in a statement by his campaign team, Team Ribadu today (Thursday) regretted that there was no sector in the country that worked.

He said, “The moral dimension of governance in the country today remains indisputably negative, and this is not a construction in anyone’s head.

“The evidence speaks starkly of levels of poverty that is simply beyond belief; of a crumbled educational sector; a health sector that posts a terribly disgraceful score card; as well as an infrastructure and power sector that bear the vivid meaning of the word failure. Indeed, the picture in every sector remains one of shock, shame, and stoppage.

“For the multitude of our youth that constitute 70 per cent of the population, their situation depicts a frightening reality of unemployment, and a furiously escalating surge of hopelessness, frustration, and anger.”

He said that rather than make hasty judgement on his failure at the poll, it was necessary to focus on the goal of creating a better society as his electoral disappointment is accompanied by “critical lessons, better clarity about means and ends.”

He said, “The elections have come and gone, and at moments like this when the results appear not to match up our expectations, the tendency is high to lapse into self-blame, and hasty but untested judgments about how we had invested in a failed project; and about how politics is too dirty and too evil.

“We need to focus more on the goals of a better society and the vision of creating a community of opportunity in our country. Invariably, in that journey, disappointments and reversals will accompany us but with it will also come critical lessons, better clarity about means and ends.”

Ribadu however thanked those who contributed to his campaign even as he reserved special encomiums for the near three million people that voted for him in the elections.

“To those who contributed in one way or the other to the campaign, I want them to know that they earn my boundless gratitude.

“But the lead heroes of this process are the near three million voters who trooped out to cast a vote of support to our vision of a new Nigeria as defined in the policy document, pathways to a New Nigeria.

“I thank them earnestly; also urge them to continue to show keen interest and greater awareness of the importance of their votes by demanding accountability from those to whom they have bestowed the authority of leadership from local to federal institutions,” he added.