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Written by: Ribadu: A Political PawnNigeria is a strange political plane, a place where the unusual and the unimaginable becomes a way of life. Our political space has become a place of mockery and deception. A place where mediocrity is celebrated, rapscallions are enthroned and skivers aspire to positions of honour and integrity. The recent census, censored by the Obasanjo administration assumed the population of Nigeria to be over 140million people. If we are to go by the assumed figure, it means we have 140million people with immeasurable resources but without the fundamental ability and gumption to govern, rule and conduct ourselves. How does one explain this paradox called Nigeria to any external observer without the feeling of shame, pain and ignominy? The recent tango between citizen Ribadu and the Nigerian government under the cloak of the Nigerian Police further removes any iota of regard the international community may have had for this entity called Nigeria. Politics is played in Nigeria without regard for decency and projection of the Nigerian state in the eyes of the international community. The recent melodrama between the aforementioned parties leaves a very sour taste in the mouth. The entire episode makes you squirm and wince at our entire political set up. The entire Ribadu, saga is a caste in the realism of the Nigeria political topography. Ribadu must have being living in a fools paradise if he thought he was going to get away with all of his flagrant disregard for the fundamental human rights of his victims, the conspicuous emasculation of political opponents and the direct affront and despise for the rule of law, while he had access to the corridors of Obasanjo’s realm. Citizen Ribadu, should have understood the implications of power politics and should have being more modest with the discharge of his master’s untoward orders. Selective justice is tantamount to injustice. Citizen Ribadu was Mr Obasanjo’s Rottweiler, ready not only to bark but also to bite mercilessly anyone who dare questions his master about his God given right to run for a third term. Emperor Obasanjo, knew that his third term bid was going to generate controversy from most quarters and in order to silent any-would-be antagonist he formulated EFCC under the guise of fighting corruption. EFCC was set up to muscle any opposition that wants to dare the emperor’s dream of ruling his subjects for another 4 years. The emperor needed someone young, ambitious and unknown whose loyalty to him will be complete and total in return for promotions, influence and money. A young unknown officer in the person of Citizen Ribadu, became the ideal candidate. Ribadu, swapped the uneventful and insignificant postings or position the Police Force could have offered him (who probably would have ended up in one unknown police station) with the highbrow position of the chairman of EFCC. Citizen Ribadu may have being adequately compensated when his master held sway for his ferocious pursuit of his master’s enemies both real and imagined; albeit with absolute disregard for the procedures of the Police Force. What he however didn’t realise was that, he was a dispensable political pawn in emperor Obasanjo’s unfettered quest for his birthright. Citizen Ribadu, was only important as long as the emperor pursued a third term agenda, his relevance therefore expired when the third term brouhaha was finally interred. Ribadu’s, inexperience in Nigeria’s deadly political terrain and his inability to bridle his use of power are the reasons citizen Ribadu, is under severe scrutiny and assault from the juggernauts that he once trashed. Ribadu was fighting a battle he couldn’t win. To fight corruption in Nigeria is to fight the entire constituent of the Nigerian state. Nigeria is a state built on fraud and surviving by fraud. The majority of the players in all arms of Government are people who got there by fraud, deception and murder. You therefore cannot fight corruption by the yardstick of the corrupt. To sincerely fight corruption in Nigeria, is to decimate the entire structure called Nigeria. Ribadu fought corruption on Obasanjo’s terms, which was emasculate political nitwits and favour political booth lickers. In the wake of Ribadu’s larger than life posture he also trampled upon the very institution that afforded him the platform to embrace the limelight. The Nigerian Police Force became subservient to the EFCC rather than the other way round. Ribadu was answerable to no one but to the emperor. The hierarchy of the Force became marginalised by the enormous powers given Ribadu, thereby abusing the chain of command. Now the marginalised superiors want a piece of Ribadu’s flesh. Even after getting rid of him from the Force, some are still not satisfied; perhaps their satisfaction will come when they put him behind bars. Ribadu must feel very lonely and unappreciated; especially with the emperor refusing to use his political clout to intervene in this trying period. Obasanjo could not be bothered about Ribadu’s travail; he’s just another dispensable tool in Obasanjo’s quest for significance. Ribadu was only necessary to unleash on Obasanjo’s opponents who opposed his third term bid. With the third term saga now dead and gone, so are the likes of Ribadu. They are what they call political casualties. To Obasanjo, Ribadu, has being well compensated for all his troubles, from a non-entity to a celebrity, from an unknown officer to a fearsome machinery in the Nigerian space, from an obscure person to a respected and internationally acclaimed persona. The unwritten rule about government appointments is; showcase yourself while you have the exposure. It is unfortunate that Ribadu didn’t see the handwriting on the wall soon enough. He should have left the stage as soon as his master’s bid for perpetuity failed. Hoping to survive beyond Obasanjo was Ribadu’s greatest undoing. The agony and ridicule he now suffers, the disregard for his person and family and the emotional trauma would all have being avoided if had taken a more circumspect look at his relevance beyond the emperor. Ribadu was a pawn who defended his master well and with the exit of his master the desire for his blood from those he once cowed became inevitable. Ribadu must realise and so should everyone saddled with power, that the burden of power is the equitable use of it. Today you are lord and master tomorrow you might be servant and messenger. Power is transient and all those privileged to have it should exercise caution in the use of it. Ribadu may have effectively used the power bestowed on him to silence rivals and portray them as public enemy number one. But, did he equitably discharge that power? Can he without any iota of guilt say confidently, that his duties were discharged without fear or favour? I wonder what fine officer Ribadu would have made, if he didn’t allow himself to be dragged into the murky world of Obasanjo’s vindictiveness and maliciousness. I wonder what the future holds for him in this vast expanse of political treachery and trickery. I suppose for the moment he remains a paradox to the minds of many. A victor to some and to others a villain; whatever portrayal of him you may embrace Ribadu, gave us the opportunity to see the nakedness of these mindless brutes who call themselves leaders.
Paul Thomas Ireland
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