I’m ready to serve my country - Ribadu •Accepts FG’s offer •He’s on his own

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I’m ready to serve my country - Ribadu •Accepts FG’s offer •He’s on his own - ACN

Written by Olawale Rasheed and Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja Wednesday, 08 February 2012

FORMER presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has accepted his appointment as the chairman of the Petroleum

Revenue Special Task Force, citing the need to serve his nation as an overriding reason.

Ribadu, in a statement entitled “When the Nation Calls,” said if he could serve other countries, there was no reason why he should not serve his fatherland.

The statement read: “I was greeted with numerous calls and mail yesterday when the administration announced my name as chairman of the 21-man Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force.

“Given my recent political pedigree, many inquirers naturally wanted to understand what was happening, and whether it was true that I was consulted and whether I would accept the offer.

“The history of my life is a history of public service, and if we cast an honest look to the recent protests in the wake of the oil subsidy removal, it will be clear to all that the biggest single victory Nigerians scored was to put the question of corruption squarely back on the top of our national policy agenda.

“Regardless of our affiliations, our differences, and our engagements, it is at least safe to say that we have a national consensus on the deadly impact of corruption on our march to greatness, and on the capacity of our people, particularly the youth, to earn a decent, promising, life. If we would effectively isolate and defeat this scourge, therefore, we must all see it as a pre-eminent national security threat. We must see it as a war within our borders, a war that has assumed a systemic and endemic character, but to which all must now urgently enlist with our different capacities, or accept to all go down with the ship.

“At this point in my life, it is also easy to answer the honest question if it is inappropriate to invest my modest talents and capabilities in my country what I have readily offered many foreign communities, from sister nations in Africa to far-flung places like Afghanistan. This, if nothing, makes my decision very personal, freeing all affiliations (social and political) of complicity, but investing the decision also with the unique character that when people reach evaluations in favour of their larger communities, it doesn’t necessarily blemish their moral identity.

“This, therefore, is a national call. In answering it, I go back to the template of my own parents who taught me that honest public service is the greatest asset a person can offer his community. It was the same lesson I learnt from his biographical example when my own father returned home as a federal legislator in Lagos to take up a job as a local council official in Yola—it is all about the community, and it is sometimes bigger than our personal egos,” the statement posted on the web stated.

Ribadu had, in the wake of the fuel subsidy crisis, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to clamp down on corruption in Nigeria, adding that, that was the only way government could free resources for development.

Nigerian Tribune was told that Ribadu would take up the job once he finalised the report on his current anti-corruptiion work in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Senate, on Wednesday, disclosed that it would give the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, all the legislative backing for the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, which was set up to ensure probity and accountability in the nation’s oil sector.

The task force is chaired by Mallam Ribadu, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman.

The Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) led by Senator Magnus Abe, which made this known, said this when the ministry’s permanent secretary appeared before the committee to shed light on budget figures.

Senator Abe said: “Please convey my congratulations to the minister on the setting up of the task force. I was very happy with the quality of people chosen to work on the PRSTF. I am particularly happy with the selection of Professor Olusegun Okunnu, who I know is an expert in restructuring.

“How the people are now utilised is another thing but it is a good step in the right direction…”

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Goni Sheikh, said the task force was in fulfillment of the policies and promises of the Jonathan administration and fuelled by the yearnings of Nigerians for transparency in the petroleum industry.

However, the Senate committee has directed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to submit its nominal roll after it disagreed with the situation where the department intends to spend N30.399 billion as its recurrent expenditure out of a total budget of N35 billion for the 2012 fiscal year.

The committee issued the directive after it emerged that the DPR has a current staff strength of 1, 108 with projections to employ 250 more.

Austin Olorunshola, who is a director, told the senators that the department had 250 people on its waiting list with another 200 more lined up for employment in the second or third quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has reiterated its long-standing position barring members of the party from accepting appointments from the PDP-led Federal Government.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the decision to re-state that position followed the appointment offered to the ACN presidential candidate in the 2011 elections, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as head of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

“As a political party, we wish to reiterate our position barring any member of our party from taking any appointment whatsoever from the PDP-led Federal Government. Any member of our party who takes such an appointment does so in his personal capacity,’’ it said.

ACN said, however, that as a leading opposition party, it would continue to play its role in ensuring good governance and contributing to nation building through its regular constructive criticisms which, hitherto and unfortunately so, had fallen on deaf ears.

The party said despite its efforts, as well as those of other parties, individuals and organisations, in offering well-meaning suggestions to the Jonathan administration, the administration had not demonstrated good faith in this respect.

“For instance, on the vexed issue of removal of petroleum subsidy, it is on record that our party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, responded with patriotic and constructive suggestions during a meeting with the president in Abuja. At the end of that meeting, President Jonathan promised to further consult with us before taking any further step in respect of the matter, but went ahead to implement the decision.

“We believe that when a party as clueless and inept as the PDP finds itself incapable of solving the myriad of problems facing it, as it is currently the situation, the party should be humble and honest enough to accept its failure and openly seek help from the opposition parties,” the party said.

‘’However, rushing to poach credible personalities from the opposition without first accepting that it is overwhelmed by the problems facing it smacks of underhand tactics aimed at decimating the opposition and also tarnishing the well-earned credibility of such personalities.

“To our amazement, and true to the deceptive nature of this administration, we all woke up on January 1, 2012, to learn that the government has unilaterally removed subsidy from petrol. How then can we, in good conscience, work with such an administration? How can we be sure that these slew of appointments are not being used by the administration to shore up its sagging - or totally sagged - credibility?” the party queried.

After all, one can never be sure - going by the deceptive nature of the PDP - that the kind of appointment now being offered to Malam Ribadu is being made in good faith or just to get credible people to launder the government’s badly damaged image and credibility.

‘’There is also the possibility that booby-traps will be deliberately set for such credible personalities to guarantee their failure in their stated assignment, after which they will be ridiculed and dumped like an ordinary chump!’’ ACN said.

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NUHU RIBADU ASKED TO CHAIR {PRSTF}
written by OLUSOLA OYENIYI, February 09, 2012

I equally congratulate Nuhu Ribadu for taking this bold step to serve His Father,s land and also same to Mr president .I belief that both of them displayed maturity ithe sellection and acceptance in good faith .I will appeal to our politicians not to play with the lives of millions of Nigerians with politics of bitterness and stupidity Hence any body in what ever capacity can dis own Ribadu for what ever reason ,but they must realise that Nigeria is bigger than any political party as God is more powerful than any arrogant man

YOUR INVESTMENT HAS YEALD A BIG PROFIT-RUBADU
written by Gaskiya dayace, February 09, 2012

We knew that it will certainly be known to us all that you are one of them-PDP GUYS.I want you to always remember that whatever you do,you'll be judged and rewarded by ALLAH.

-1

Mr
written by WaleRich, February 09, 2012

A question for ACN. If you are not there how can you correct them. Governance is not about talking but participation.Let people from various parties team up and show the Nigerians their worth. Its time to revamp our economy whichever way.

A true Nigerian
written by Okode Patrick, February 09, 2012

As a matter of facts, ACN is not better than PDP as a party considering their brief Political historical antecidents.How dare would they not support Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in his new appointment.No responsible citizen of a nation would reject a national call to service. You dont need to be a president before you serve your people and that is what Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has faithfully demostrated. Nigerians should suppoert this committee as they are morally capable of extinguishing curruption in the oil sector. Good luck to Nuhu and his teams. God bless Nigeria

NIGERIA IS BIGGER THAN ACN
written by UNWANA UDOMAH, February 09, 2012

Let me make it very clear that ribadu is not feeding from ACN and does not owe any body explanation on how and when to serve his country. i urge Ribadu to forget about those men that are poison-minded and serve his country, there was nigeria before any ACN. my annoyance is that this men proclame one Nigeria and has the mouth to barn AACN members from helping out in fixing the country that was distroyed by their generation.

prince
written by kenny thompson, February 09, 2012

What is incorruptible is incorruptible, booby traps or not. When election is over everyone should put aside their differences and build the nation together. That is what Government of National Unity is all about. ACN find it easy to hide their mistakes under a full ACN managed government but are worried of exposure if in shared government. Well done PDP/GEJ for your decision and well done Ribadu for accepting.

Right decision.
written by Anyi, February 09, 2012

I think it was right decision on behalf of the government to appoint Nuhu Ribadu as the chairman of this committee and right decision for Nuhu Ribadu to accept the job in order to probe and deal with the corruption that have embedded in our system, particularly this petroleum sector.

An Interview with Gani Fawenhimi on the recent happening in Nigeria.
written by Olosunde Oriyomi, February 09, 2012

As i read through Nuru Ribadu acceptance speech as the chairman of the Task Force created by Jonathan administration, i felt disappointed and i traveled to heaven to interview Gani Fawenhimi on his opinion on the present happenings in Nigeria and this was the great Man's reply:
Press: Sir what do you think about the resent situation in the country, Boko haram, The subsidy issue on ground and also Nuru Ribadu accepting to be the Chairman of the Task Force with Two Governors been swearing a day in Kogi State?
Gani: Adjust is glass, well you see my dear brother let me start with your last question, when there is a governor elect of what use is a acting governor in a state i believe the constitution is clear enough to answer that question.
Gani: To your next question aburo, You see I have always notice Nuru right from his days as the EFCC chairman, Nuru is very zealous to serve his fatherland, I thought he was a man just like me who hates corruption but i was wrong Nuru became a man so taste for power and recognition the moment he joined politics, but what i don't understand is, his Nuru so much taste for recognition that he agreed to serve under the same man he contested against in the last election, Gani adjust his glass again, what on earth was he even thinking of from a presidential candidate to a Task Force chairman who is to report to the minister of petroleum, Has he quickly forgot what happened to Bola Ige when he took up a national call to serve his fathers land i pray God be with him.
Gani: To that of the subsidy, you see, Gani cleared his throat, The remover of the subsidy is a good project but been introduce at the wrong time, what on earth did Mr President thought of raising the topic of the remover of fuel subsidy at a time when the nation unity is been treating by some faceless Boko Haram terrorist group, you see before fuel subsidy can be remove all government officials either elected or appointed there must be a review in their salaries and allocation and to that effect even i am thinking of filling a cases against the recent fuel price.
Gani: To your first question, Gani sit up and adjust is glasses, Boko haram claims to be a religion select against western education but i can tell you boldly there is more to dat, If you can recall Boko haram resuscitated not long after the 2011 election and ever since then they have been treating the peace of this country most especially in the north part of the country, Of recent i heard the Sultan of Sokoto, The Speaker of the house of representative and some Arewa Leaders agreed to lead the federal government term in dialog with the faceless terrorist group so then who are they deceiving, I strongly agree with Mr President that the Boko haram has invaded most of the security and none security sectors in the country and i want to use this medium to advise Mr President not to go into dialog with a terrorist group, why didn't the united state go into dialog with Osama bin ladi, The President should rise and prove to Nigerians that he his capable of ruling this country by providing for every citizen adequate security and dealing with the faceless Boko Haram select, I will also advise the Arewa and Northern leaders forum to live by the legacy laid down by their past leaders who history still recognize till date.
Press: Sir you have really spoken well, but what would be your request to God for Nigeria now that you are in Heaven?
Gani: My dear friend, I pray Nigerian lives in unity in this trial time and attain greater height. A country free of corruption please do help me say well to my friends and family who are still mourning me till now and also my friends who are still begging for arms on the high way of Lagos.

Evangelist
written by Evgt Osawaru Osawaru, February 09, 2012

This is my advice to ACN if they want to succeed as a party in Nigeria they should put nigeria and nigerians first before party, by their comments and stance refusing to support the current government of President Goodluck positively who will support them if by tomorrow they win, ACN i warn you not to use your hands to dig your graves.