It was very surprising that the duo of Nasir El-Rufai, the former FCT Minister, and the self-acclaimed former anti-graft superman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu decided to tell Nigerians how they single-handedly manoeuvred the incumbent President Umaru Yar’Adua into office in 2007.
In his recently published epistle to Nigeria, El-Rufai was quick to reveal that the Obasanjo regime because it had no plans to hand- over power after the mandatory eight years in office at the last minute decided to settle for Yar’Adua who was reluctant and not very physically fit because of his health challenges.
Of course this is the truth but El-Rufai in his confessional letter failed or rather deliberately refused to tell Nigerians how he and Nuhu Ribadu manipulated Maurice Iwu with EFCC blackmail and forced him to accept the master plan for the electoral fraud that assigned almost all the votes caste in the presidential election to Yar’Adua.
This is an interesting aspect that Nigerians would love to know if for nothing, at least to help prevent future re-occurrence of such heinous crime and maybe boost confidence in results of future elections in the country.
The former FCT Minister should tell Nigerians the roles he and Ribadu assigned to Prof Iwu, the INEC boss and how he achieved them since it has become very clear that throughout the period of the elections, the INEC boss was forced to take orders and also report back to Ribadu, El-Rufai and Bayo Ojo.
Iwu was blackmailed with serious EFCC report indicting him of massive corruption in the use or rather misused of huge funds deliberately released to him by Obasanjo as planned and packaged by the two whiz kids- Rufai and Ribadu.
This EFCC investigative report is currently somewhere between the custody of the new EFCC boss and the Presidency. It may also be used in addition to newly generated facts as a bait to blackmail Iwu and force him to compromise again in 2011. How long can this nation afford move in this vicious circle of fraud that has only produced lame dog presidents, governors, local government chairmen and even federal lawmakers?
With Prof Iwu a man grossly compromised still directing the affairs of INEC and going by antecedents thus far, it will be very difficult for any Nigerian to expect that there is going to be free and fair elections in 2011 and this should be a cause for serious concern.
El-Rufai and Ribadu were very correct when they informed Nigerians that Yar’Adua and the government he runs are hollow and lack the knowledge, will power and wisdom to run the country, as shown by the grim picture of the last two years.
They were also correct in their assertion that Yar’Adua lacks the courage, the will power and the good intents to pursue critical reforms in critical sectors like electoral process and anti-corruption fight, as he does not necessarily abhor corruption contrary to the managed picture that birthed his emergence.”
However, unknown to the duo, Nigerians have heard what they did not or rather are yet to say.
EL-Rufai and Ribadu failed or rather smartly dodged to let Nigerians know that all they did under the guise of patriotic service to the nation were mere camouflage to further their political ambitions and relevance in the control of the Presidency.
But like all divine interventions from the Almighty God, the project instead turned out to be their greatest undoing with potentials of sending both of them to several years in prison under the same guise or maybe even genuine charges of corruption and gross abuse of office which they used to hunt political opponents that had the clout to stand in their way of actualising the evil agenda. The two self-acclaimed superstars were blinded by greed in all they did as was manifest in the manner El-Rufai garnered choicest plots in the FCT.
The two “patriots” failed to tell Nigerians that Yar’Adua as the PDP candidate actually passed –out at a campaign rally. It was Nasir and Nuhu against all medical advice and human arguments that coerced Julius Berger into placing Umaru on life support system before he was flown to Germany from where Obasanjo spoke to him during the now very famous “Umooru are you dead” drama. This was because Ribadu and El-Rufai couldn’t stand the thought of loosing their investments in Yar’Adua so he must live at all costs.
El-Rufai and Ribadu failed to tell Nigerians how they manipulated Obasanjo into believing that Atiku Abubakar was his greatest political enemy and a stumbling block to his future political ambitions. They failed to disclose or comment on how they packaged trumped- up charges of corruption, abuse of office amongst others all in attempt to discredit the former vice president whom they know that they would not be able to manipulate if he becomes the president.
Also, the two whiz kids failed to tell Nigerians how they used unsubstantiated, un-investigated and cooked- up corruption charges against the former Rivers State governor Peter Odili to blackmail him out of the vice president nomination - all, in attempt to further Yar´Adua´s choice of his deputy.
Since the the two ex-servicemen have decided to revealed their roles in install Yar’Adua as the president, they should not tell half truth. Nigerians would want to hear all they did in their patriotic service of giving the nation “the most suitable candidate.” Nigerians are waiting.
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chukwuagozie ethelbert manchester, england June 11, 2009
I still maintain that Nigerian's are like clay in the hands of the potters.
The Chief potter today in Nigeria In looks Yar'adua himself and by implication the most curropt man in Nigeria. If our dearly beloved righteous president could still surround himself with the likes of Maurice Iwu, Andoakan, Farida as people holding key positions in his government and still feel comfrotable.
It may be either that he is short sighted, dumb blind or outrightly the Chief Corrupt officer, Federal republic of Naija.
If he still frolicks with the likes of James Ibori and have as his governors the likes of the present thief in Ekiti; If the president is not perturbed at the performnce of PDP in the last Ekiti re-run; then there is more to the personality of our "president" that is not yet know by the majority of Nigerian.
Why should corruption perpertuation not be on theincrease when you if you are a politician, you are sure of being shielded provided you are a PDP chieftain?
A beg make we no even think of waisting our hard earned oil revenue in 2011 cos we know the way it will go if IWU is still the INEC chief. We might as well ask them to continue. If God has chosen to hear our cry, let Abacha experience re-occur again. PERIOD!
Grace Detroit, MI, USA June 10, 2009
I dont understand what anyone want this author to substantiate. Substantiate has become a new arguement to elude the questions poised here. If anyone wants anything to be substantiated, please click on: http://www.ngex.com/news/public/article.php?ArticleID=720 and find Osondu Onoh´s articule called "The multiple sins of AIG Ribadu". I am positive about the authenticity of the whole affirmation made by this author. This is riddiculuous! How can we ignore the questions raised and attack the credibility of the author.
Some even insinuated that the articule was written by AGF Aondoakaa. You all make me laugh. Nigeria will never change, always avoiding the real questions and raising different issue to elude an answer. This author has writing many articules, more than most of the "go go" boys in here.
Please click to find a few number of his posts: http://www.ngex.com/news/public/aarchive.php?PublisherID=100 Ribadu should give us an answer. I know that he is in London and therefore, can access the internet even from his kitchen.
Ribadu, tell us the truth, where you a part of all these plot???
Ebi Emeowei Port Harcourt, Nigeria June 10, 2009
Nobody should accuse Andoaka (AGF) for this article. The piece was not from the AGF. I know Senior Fyneface as a friend and brother and he lives in Port Harcourt.
He is one independent –minded Nigerian that says what he feels should be said without fear or favour. Anybody doubting this should ask me to link him with this brilliant and no-nonsense Niger Delta man.
cliff baltimore, md, usa June 10, 2009
The first sentence of the article itself has made the entire nonsense very stupid.
AIG Ribadu did not make himself EFCC chairman and as far as the entire world knows he fought fraudster like you are your so called minister for justice that has become embarrassment to Nigeria, moreover law enforcement agencies around the glob will listen to AIG Ribadu before they even acknowledge Yar'Adua or anyone else in Nigeria when it comes to fighting corruption.
May I also remind the author that Ribadu did not award himself any of the recognition coming from world over. the same can not be said for madam waziri or aenodoka
Who ever the writer is you need to go take some diaria medicine to cleans your system becousre its full of rubish.
Bomber Madrid, Spain June 10, 2009
Kudos to this writer. He/ She has brought a genuine debate on the true personality of Ribadu and El Rufai.
The debate is genuine because it has always been clamour of support for both fugitive and condemnation to a legitimate democratically elected government. I will like to know the truth from Ribadu and El Rufai.
Although, it doesnt make any difference what they say because, I know that they are both corrupt to the heels.
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