By Tony Icheku
Ahead of the 2015 general elections,
the coast is becoming clearer as to who becomes the next governor of Adamawa
State. The emergence of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the governorship candidate of the
People’s Democratic Party, PDP indicates to a large extent who may become the
next governor of the state.
Perhaps laying the background for
Adamawa’s metamorphosis is the unexpected unanimity that heralded the election
of Ribadu. It would be recalled that the political gladiators who elected him
were ready only a few months back to do battle. But by their action, they have
sheathed their swords, ready now to allow peace reign.
What had given some observers sleepless
nights is whether Ribadu, a new entrant to the party would be acceptable to the
party’s stakeholders.
However, his overwhelming victory in
the primary had proved such pessimists wrong. Adamawa people have broken with
the past politics of rudderlessness, bickering and inept leadership. By
embracing Ribadu, they sealed a pact with him to rebuild the 23 year old state
which had for long been beleaguered by multifaceted challenges.
Ribadu, former Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, is a man with exceptional passion. Passion
for excellence and passion for a better society. Such passion enabled him carve
his name on gold as a no-nonsense anti-graft tsar under former President
Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
During his tenure as EFCC boss, Ribadu
showed his passion to change society. He spoke out against the cancer called
corruption. He did his EFCC job courageously.
His exit from the EFCC and subsequently
from the Nigeria Police Force did not quench this passion. His subsequent entry
into politics elicited the widest reactions. But Ribadu is not in politics to
make a statement. He wants to win.
Perhaps this explains his hasty entry
to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to fly its presidential flag in the
2011 presidential election. His defection from the party and entry to the PDP
equally stirred the hornets’ nest. Many who saw him as their hero felt
disappointed. But such is life: ideals and pragmatics are clearly intertwined
at every junction of decision. And not all good decisions have the appearance
of a rose flower.
Ribadu, the pragmatic had chosen the
mundane, pragmatic job of service to humanity, to his Adamawa people in
particular. One does not therefore need to go too far to rationalise his reason
for choosing the PDP to pursue his governorship ambition. It offers him the
political structure to make it possible.
Beyond the 2015 general election, what
looms large is the future and development of this state which could be
described as being in the doldrums for now.
Axiomatically, Adamawa is not lacking
in human resources needed to propel the state actualise its potentials. From
all sectors of both the public and private sector, the military and professional
sector, one would find quality intellectuals from the state. If the elites from
the state had been so concerned, Adamawa State could have transformed to a
paradise.
Exploiting the resources of the state
would be a fruitless exercise if bold and courageous leadership to
take the hard decisions is lacking.
But Ribadu already has a reputation for
taking hard decisions. Under his watch, the EFCC charged prominent bankers,
former as well as serving state governors, ministers, senate presidents, high ranking
political apparatchiks and party members, commissioners of Police, and “419”
operators to court.
Source: http://leadership.ng
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