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Why PDP Must Beware Of Mallam Ribadu





The news of the decision of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to dump the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Peoples democratic Party PDP came as a rude shock to a lot of people over the weekend not with the way he had condemned the PDP and its leader Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan since he decided to join the political firmament some years back. It actually did not come as a shock to many of us that are aware of his desperation for power.
Since his voyage into politics, Nigerians have come to know him more for who he is. This is why his decision to abandon the All Progressive Party from which he had gotten the Presidential nomination from one of its component parties (Action Congress of Nigeria ACN) raised a lot serious concern for the future of ideology in our democracy considering the fact that his acerbic criticisms in the course of satisfying his former party gave a lot of people cause to tow his line then especially his admirers.
Politics as they say is a game of interest and I do believe that the decision of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to dump the APC boils down to an interest which is very glaring to Nigerians. As a person and through my organization which I represent as the National Coordinator, the Niger Delta Renaissance Organisation has persistently supported the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and it will be wrong to see an impending danger and keep quiet. This is why I must not fail to voice my suspicion against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s rumoured interest for the governorship race for Adamawa state and to also alert the party to beware of his interest and not to give in to his antics.
I remember the way he was hounded and chased out of the country after the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo whom he diligently served as anti corruption Czar. The likes of James Ibori whom he haunted took the fight to another level by ensuring that seek refuge outside the country. It took the intervention of our dear President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to bring him back to the country. As soon as he came back, the gratitude he showed to Mr. President was to follow the likes of Alhaji Bola Tinubu and the then Action Congress of Nigeria ACN to consistently criticize the ruling PDP and its leader. The dividend he got for this betrayal was the party’s nomination ticket to vie for the Presidency. As God would have it, he lost the general election woefully. He was later given the Chairmanship position of the Committee to investigate the fuel subsidy payment by Mr. President against the decision of his party that he shouldn’t be part of that committee. Mallam Ribadu went ahead to Chair the committee. The aftermath of how he ended up embarrassing the Presidency and the Minister of Petroleum is still fresh in the minds of all of us.
His attitude just like that of Nasir el Rufai shows people who have no regard for the good done them in the past.
His decision to join the Peoples Democratic Party must be well appraised otherwise he will come back to become a thorn in the flesh of the party if he is allowed to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state. Mallam Ribadu is a desperate politician who does not give a hoot about his credibility. All he is after is to be relevant in the system. This kind of character is dangerous and must not be allowed to have his way.
I am aware of Adamawa people who have done a lot for the party. How would these people feel if they are abandoned for someone that showed disregard for the party through his statements and conducts over the years? In politics, loyalty to the party counts and such loyalty deserve pay back. There are better people in the party than Nuhu Ribadu who must be considered for the nomination of the party for the governorship election. I remember being an observer for the last election that ushered in Murtala Nyako for second term and I won’t forget what the likes of the the Chairman of the party Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other party stalwarts did to ensure that the former governor wins the election. How would those that gave the party massive votes for example in Yola North and South amongst others feel if after their struggles somebody who campaigned against them is brought in to become its flag bearer. The signal such action will show is that the PDP lacks men and women of character. This is not the kind of credibility the PDP should give to the opposition APC because it will send a dangerous signal to all Nigerians as we head to the general elections next year.
Comrade Nwokoma Messiah is the National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Renaissance Organisation NDRO

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