By Tokunbo Adedoja/THISDAY
 |
| Nuhu Ribadu |
Former
Presidential Candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and pioneer
chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has disclosed that
all opposition leaders who nursed presidential aspirations have set their
ambitions aside for the success of the coalition under the canopy of All
Progressives Congress (APC). In an interview with THISDAY, Ribadu also said all
eyes were on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), both locally
and international, to see how the electoral body would respond to the alleged
plots to frustrate the registration of the new platform formed by opposition
parties.
Responding
to a question on the prevailing views that the personal ambitions of APC
leaders - some of whom contested the last presidential election or were
speculated to have nursed such aspirations - may thwart the efforts to form a
formidable platform that would challenge the ruling People’s Democratic Party
(PDP), and if they would be willing to shelve their aspirations in the interest
of the coalition, Ribadu said: "The most pleasant thing is that it has
already happened. We came into this merger with nobody having any personal ambition.
All of us were told to put our own interests or personal ambitions aside. This
merger has come because nobody went in with any condition or with any request
for anything."
The
former ACN presidential flag bearer said, "We have decided to merge and
become one political party that is national, that is going to give Nigerians an
alternative and through this process, I believe that this party is going to
bring up candidate or candidates that would meet the expectations of
Nigerians."
On
the kind of leader that would emerge on the platform, Ribadu gave assurances
that the APC would produce a leader that all Nigerians would be comfortable
with and that would solve the problems created by the PDP. "APC is not
going to produce any sectional leader. We are going to work to ensure that
whatever we are going to bring out is going to work. We are going to ensure
that, not only at the presidential level, but we will produce credible leaders
at the state level and at the parliamentary level", he said.
Describing
the emergence of a strong opposition platform as a healthy development and an
indication that democracy is progressively getting matured, Ribadu noted that
since 1999, this year seems to be the most significant in terms of the next
level and a new chapter.
He
said: "It is starting with the opposition parties coming together. We have
only had one single political party ruling since 1999 and of course it has
failed completely. Democracy means opportunity to make choices, to have
alternatives, opportunity for others to thrive too.
But
sadly, the opposition parties in Nigeria never got it right. We failed to build
a national platform that would serve as alternative and PDP benefited immensely
from that and it became the only party Nigerians would claim to be national.
"Now,
different political parties have decided to come together. They are all with
their own power bases and spheres of influence.
This
year, we have seen the unprecedented resolve and all of them are putting
whatever they have aside and saying that Nigeria is number one and far more
important than anything. They are coming together and I believe that they have
succeeded. We are likely going to have a national political party that is going
to be alternative to PDP."
Commenting
on the likely benefits of having a strong opposition party that is national in
outlook, Ribadu said, "Through that, maybe we will be able to tackle
rigging and stealing of elections because when you have a strong political
opposition that is going to be national, chances are that you may have a free
and fair elections."
Recalling
that elections in the past were never credible, he said, "We know it, all
of us know it. Even the winners know it", adding, "A compromised
election is the greatest danger to democracy. If this new platform would give
Nigeria the opportunity to have a free and fair election, then it is a welcome
development."
Noting
that the APC had what it takes to win the next election, Ribadu said, "In
the APC, you have tested democrats, you have credible persons, individuals with
integrity. We have in the APC, people who command the respect of Nigerians and
we also have in the APC, may be the best public officers, particularly
governors that have shown that you can have good governance and a government
that can deliver."
On
the allegations that the ruling PDP was behind plots to frustrate registration
of APC, he said there were valid and legitimate concerns about such plots.
Ribadu
said: "Many Nigerians are also exercising that fear and expressing it. I
believe that opposition politics is the most difficult thing to do. Even in
developed countries, it is not easy, not to talk of developing country like
Nigeria. The people who are in charge will not just sit down and say you can
take power from them. It is a normal thing. They will do whatever they can do
not to allow that happen.
"They
are more dangerous when they are cornered. When they are in panic, they can be
rough, they can be dirty, they can be lawless. It is exactly what we are
witnessing today. PDP is in total mess, they are in disarray. They have seen a
very credible alternative emerging, they have seen the solid support of Nigeria
behind it. They are not likely going to sit down and allow it to happen like
that."
He
however warned PDP to note that, "Time has come, this change is
inevitable, and Nigerians are saying that enough is enough now."
Speaking
further, he said: "People are tired, people are fed up. Already, we have
seen the worst insecurity, poverty, difficulties, terrible name and image, poor
and incompetent leadership. Nigerians are crying for change and for
alternative.
"They
must realise that people are not going to take it. Those of us in the forefront
of attempt to bring good people together will not just allow them to do
whatever they like anymore. Nobody is going to sit down and allow lawlessness
to continue in Nigeria. If they are going to frustrate or bring obstacle, let
them also know that the time has come for people to say no."
Ribadu
also said that all eyes were now on the electoral body as, "Everybody is
watching and waiting to see what INEC would do. Are they going to be in bed
with PDP not to allow Nigerians to have an alternative progressive party or
not? Everybody is waiting to see what would be INEC's reaction, not only in
Nigeria but also in the world. I have heard people, particularly from foreign
countries like the US, the UK, calling me and asking what is happening."
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