NUHU RIBADU

La présidentielle avance à grand pas, la liste des candidats s’allonge. Si les 63 partis politiques décident de présenter un candidat, une soixantaine seront en lice.Mais quatre pèsent véritablement sur la scène politique. Parmi ces quatre, seul Nuhu Ribadu du principal parti de l’opposition, Action Congress of Nigeria pourrait donner du fil à retordre au président sortant, Goodluck Jonathan. En dépit de sa popularité, il a commis une erreur grave qui pourrait jouer contre lui, découvrez vous même cette erreur dans sa carte de visite que je vous présente en Anglais.

Ribadu: His Charm, Chances and Challenges

Although he has the advantages of youthfulness, an untainted image and a nationwide acclaim as a corruption fighter, factors such as funding may pose a challenge to the presidential ambition of Nuhu Ribadu
When he returned from a self-imposed exile in 2010, many Nigerians had thought that he was going to work with President Goodluck Jonathan as a special adviser on counter-terrorism and anti-corruption. But Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, apparently had a different idea.
“I worked for 25 years in the public service of Nigeria, most of it as a law enforcement officer. But my service was terminated, very unfairly to me, two years ago. I want to continue to serve and this opportunity to vie for the highest office in the land just appeared,” Ribadu said, while explaining why he chose to run for the presidency on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. He added that, “there is a need for a party that is national. There is a need for a party that will give Nigerians a chance for democracy to work, an alternative to what we have today. I see the possibility of progressives and good elements across the country, including the PDP, coming together to give this country a fresh start and a new beginning.”
Indeed, the promise of a fresh start and a new beginning, which he has come to represent, is, perhaps, one thing that Ribadu has going for him. Apparently, Ribadu’s strong point is his youthfulness as well as his nationwide acclaim as a corruption fighter. He easily appeals to the young and upwardly mobile. The fact that he is not tainted as a political figure would also work for him.
In addition to that, Ribadu’s strength also lies in the human rights community, which is largely in the South. He was hounded out of the country after three assassination attempts in 2008 during the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure as a result of the thinking among some political power brokers that he, as EFCC chairman, was used by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to humiliate them. While this has endeared him to many people in the human rights community, it is not known that such forces have forgiven him. Thus, Ribadu might face an uphill task winning over those he offended during his stay at the helm of affairs at EFCC. Besides, he is also not known to have acquired any form of experience outside the police. This is where his political inexperience could count against him.
In a way, his political party, ACN, may also be an albatross. Opponents may assail him with the moral burden that comes from Ribadu associating with Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State whom he had earlier accused of corruption. Ribadu had declared during an appearance before the Senate in 2006 that Tinubu’s corruption issues transcended the shores of Nigeria.
Beyond the moral burden, Ribadu might also face funding challenges. His campaign is not as well funded as that of any of the aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for instance. However, he dismissed such financial concerns, saying funding for his campaign will come from donations by the Nigerian masses. He also said his limited resources will be well used. “I disagree with the belief that it is money that counts. Those without money have made it before and I believe we can also make it. You do not need huge funds to make an impact. Well-used resources can also make a difference,” he argued.
Financial challenge aside, Ribadu’s anti-corruption stance may also scare some politicians who may stop at nothing to ensure that he does not emerge as the nation’s number one citizen. However, Ribadu is confident that he could make broad political alliances. “I’m not going to judge,” he said. “I’ll ask you to assist and be part of the change you want Nigeria to be. Nothing is beyond redemption.”
But then, Nigeria’s history has not been particularly kind to progressive politicians. In the past, progressive candidates have always alleged that they had been deliberately robbed of electoral victories through massive rigging and in instances where they had won; they were robbed of their victories. But Ribadu is optimistic that things have changed now. “Nigeria has changed and is changing. People are waking up and saying it is time for us to have free and fair elections. It’s time for our votes to count,” he said.
In spite of his optimism, Ribadu’s chances at the general elections in April will largely be affected by the choice of PDP presidential candidate. With Jonathan as PDP presidential candidate, the incumbent president will then be the only major candidate from the South while Ribadu will have to struggle for a split vote from the North with other presidential candidates from the North like Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and Ibrahim Shekarau of the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP.
This is, however, not strong enough to shake the optimism of Ribadu. “I don’t think I will fail. I’m optimistic. I’ve seen things in this country, and today I am standing here. It’s a message — a very clear one.”