NUHU RIBADU, EFCC AND FBI’S JOHN EDGAR HOOVER
The present apprehensions being expressed by Nigerians of most persuasions, and a lot of watchers of events from the international angle over the continuation or removal of Nuhu Ribadu as the chairman of the popular anti corruption Commission should be carefully appraised. The essence of the war against financial crimes should not be too personalized, and must be institutionalized to ensure its continuity.
Be that as it may, nothing should be taken away from the courageous efforts and pioneering battles of Nuhu Ribadu as the first chairman of the Commission. His personal efforts have more than any other, marshaled and propelled the success of the Commission. Several men from outside the shores of have continued to sing praises of the Commission, and the chairman has been given many awards from international bodies for the redeeming war of the Commission under his watch.
The fear of the Commission has been the beginning of caution to most executives who hitherto had been doing dirty business as usual.
Nuhu Ribadu deserves praises and should be pardoned for whatever minor mistakes committed by him, or his men or women in the carrying out of their delicate duties. Only very few men or women in the Nigeria Police could do what he has done without being compromised. He has shown unusual bravery in tackling hitherto untouchables in the Nigerian society, and also courage in going after people who have both the physical and financial muscle to counter him. This is a salute to courage.
However, there is a similarity between the present situation involving Nuhu Ribadu and the pioneer of the world renowned Federal Bureau of Investigations in . The man - John Edgar Hoover was a powerful head of the Federal Bureau of Investigations in who became so powerful that even the Senators, top executives and the White House were in awe of him. He was reputed to have kept tabs on many highly placed men and women in the American society, and people were scared of what he could do.
He worked very hard for the achievement of civility and sanity in the public and sectors of the American society. His works helped to eradicate graft – both overt and covert, made the policemen and women to shun bribes, eradicated public stealing, and brought decency into the realm of politics in the American society. His bureau was instrumental in tracking collusions between nationals of and other countries against whatever interests of the .
However, he soon became too powerful, almost for the State to control. His office was over personalized and he had access even to some privacy of top men and women while most people saw him as the office and the office as him.
It is therefore instructive to learn from the John Hoover’s history in office and apply to Nuhu Ribadu’s chairmanship. The office of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in demands a strong personality as seen in Nuhu Ribadu. It will be wrong to assume that there is no other Nuhu Ribadu in the present , no matter how corrupt the public realm has become in .
There is the important need to agree with all public commentators who have suggested that the EFCC chair should not be personalized, and if Ribadu has to move on to other areas, let it be. It is not unimportant as well, to do a diligent background checking of whoever is to assume the office. It is also apposite that whoever is going to mount the saddles as Inspector General of Police, Attorney General or EFCC chair be sound and men whom the spoils of office can not purchase.
It is a truism that the offices such as those defending public interest and image should be institutionalized, and never personalized. Nigerians are all agreed that the type of Nuhu Ribadu could be scarce, but will also agree that there are other Nuhu Ribadus all over the country. As much as Ngozi Iweala performed creditably as Nigeria’s Finance Head during her time, that should not mean Nigeria would not find equally good Nigerian quality like or her. This was the argument of this writer when she quit as a Minister because of her redeployment some months ago.
There is no doubting the quality of some of the people working for like Ribadu, but there is a big harm in personalizing the offices.
The present regime in should not confuse Nigerians with its often repeated vow to have a zero tolerance for corruption. The President should also not disappoint many Nigerians who have placed some beliefs in him as capable of providing intellectual difference from the roguish styles of the past. He needs to be firm and very clear with his leadership decisions and steps.
If he wants to remove Ribadu, let him go ahead and take his decision as the buck will stop on his desk. He should not dilly dally or allow people to start second guessing his moves.
It is important that the very best in courage and firm principles like Ribadu should be appointed to replace him. Some retired police or military men or civilians of quality abound all over . This writer would readily mention the likes of Abubakar Tsav who could serve with the same diligence as Ribadu.
Yaradua will not be doing himself any good if he allows the public to second guess or speculate his moves because of some unexplainable delays associated with them.
He also needs to show that he is own man, and prove to that the stealing and killings under Obasanjo will not go unraveled.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has brought tremendous goodwill and respects to the image of . It is important that the Commission be not compromised, or its teeth removed.
The President needs to take an unemotional look at the roles being played by the present Attorney General vis-à-vis his due process mouthing and actual relationship with the government’s stance on public stealing. The President should not hesitate to remove the Attorney General or any clog in his wheel of marching towards helping the Nigerian nation to become’s leading light..
John Ayodele,
Atlanta , USA
bishopbode@hotmail.com