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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Agunwa Lagos, Nigeria June 09, 2009
This is a good one! Can any of you Obasanjo errand boys and Ribadu blind followers in this forum refute any of the above serious allegations?
Unfortunately, this news media has chosen to systematically, uplift Ribadu´s cause and forward his hidden political agenda. They chose news of Ribadu that sooths their face lift plan of Ribadu and El Rufai. I did not read in any of this media publication Ribadu´s press conference at London Metropolitan University where he was rescued by Femi Falana from some aggrieved Nigerians who wanted to know Ribadu´s role during the Obasanjo´s extravagante third term project.
This media did not inform us about that development for reasons best know to it´s administrators. I happened to be on a visit to London and witnessed the whole episode. I must confess to you all, Ribadu cannot handle any falsehood. He is too innocent to carry the whole burden they are laying on him. The burden of misleading others or playing the good guy.
He was close to confessing, almost broken in tears when Femi Falana abruptly waged in to use the typical finger pointing to rescue Ribadu and depriving Nigerians of the golden opportunity to know the truth.
Sincerly speaking, Ribadu has a lot to confess, he did wrong, but now, I do not believe he is as arrogant and fraudulent as he try to make us believe. Ribadu can be good, but he needs to confess everything that went wrong. Ribadu should not take his secrets to the grave.I said it before and I say it again, Ribadu should not sacrifice himself in order to shield Obasanjo from prosecution.
Val Akabs Edmonton, Canada June 09, 2009
It is curious that the writer of this 'revealing piece' chose to hide his real identity. He just managed to fling far-reaching accusations without any attempt at substantiating any of them. I must admit that Mike Aaondoaka is a rugged fighter.
But sometimes these tactics do fly back into the face of the person that use them. From this piece, the PDP primary is a void, the 2007 general elections is void, as is the court ruling that legitimised Ya'aradua's election.
If this writer had all these 'overwhelming evidence,' it baffles the psyche why he chose to stand aside and watch the bastardisation of our nation. I sincerely hope that Agunwa has no hand in the cooking of this poisonous delicacy, a sure product of hate.
Tony Mustaph London, UK June 09, 2009
This could have been a good article if it was based on facts but it was based on rumour, hearsay and wishful thinking. The writer and that Agunwa should learn like most nigerians to started living in post-OBJ Nigeria. Whatever mistakes, errors or ommision Obasanjo did is longer his problems. It is up to you all now to find your saviour.
Calling Rufail and Ribadu OBJ's errant boys is not only insulting but but deserving to the nation. Mr. Agunwa, not only you can not achieve what the two people achieved in their choosen careers, you can not find any person that will equal them in commitement and achievement in Government.
We should learn to appreciate people who give it all to serve the nation. It unfortunate that corrupt governors that we praise and worship like gods.
HENRY DALLAS, USA/NIGERIA June 09, 2009
I wonder how this aurthur would write an article that he is not sure of. Just read his sentences "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?
He just wrote pieces of materials that he never substantiated. When you make accusations, back your accusations with facts.
Agunwa Lagos, Nigeria June 09, 2009
Val and Tony! Welcome to the reality of the defeated. Pointing fingers and accusing someone falsely is what you riddiculously know how to do. Now, the problem is the name or real identity of the author of this articule.
When others go by the name "wakabout" and other meaningless taggs, you reffer to them as "intellectuals". If Obasanjo´s errors are the thing of the past, why do you insist on incriminating some ex-governors with cooked up evidence?
You know who is the king of evidence falsification? Ribadu. The crown county court in London has demonstrated that Ribadu is such a dubious person. The same arguements you used to "clear" Obasanjo and his cronies of any corrupt practices.
You claimed that no accusation was "sustanciated". Now, why are you all hidding in the UK? Why is Ribadu and El Rufai hidding from justice? All civil rights advocates stay in their countries are unjustly jailed while their cause are projected and carried to the light by collegues. The new Zimbabwen prime minister remain in Zimbabwe, was arrested, beaten, humiliated but finally won his fight.
Why is Ribadu and El Rufai hidding in foreign nations? WHy are they not giving answers to these questions? Why are they not coming forward with some clarifications? Shame on you Val and Tony for being the advocates of misleading , gangs of thieves.
Remain with your ignorance or deliberate intent to decieve other Nigerians. Nigerians deserve some answers. Ribadu and El Rufai have them....
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