Adamawa gov: Ribadu meets family, gets backing from presidential aide

[NIGERIAN TRIBUNE]-THERE were strong indications on Wednesday that a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, may run for the governorship seat in Adamawa State in 2015. Nigerian Tribune reliably learnt that Ribadu, who is a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held a closed-door meeting with his extended family members in the state capital, Yola, for their backing for the race. According to sources, his ambition was said to enjoy the backing of a presidential aide, as well as other critical stakeholders in the state, including some members of the state House of Assembly and a handful of stalwarts of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A source who craved anonymity but was privy to details of the ongoing consultations embarked upon by the former EFCC boss said: “Ribadu is set to contest Adamawa governorship seat to succeed Governor Murtala Nyako, whose impeachment is imminent. “The ex-EFCC chairman is getting set to fill the vacancy anytime election is conducted in 2015 or before then. “This was why he met with his family members on Sunday to tell them why he has opted to join the governorship race after his failed bid to be president of Nigeria in 2011. “At the session, Ribadu spoke of the need to rescue Adamawa State from the maladministration and underdevelopment of the past years. “He pledged not to soil the name of the larger Ribadu family if given the chance to contest and elected.” It was gathered that the support of the presidential aide was a big boost as it had complemented the backing he was already enjoying from some members of the State House of Assembly and a few PDP topshots in the state. Nigerian Tribune gather that the presidential aide is already trying to woo some PDP leaders into the Ribadu projectA source in PDP said: “We are ready for the APC in Adamawa State; they cannot go far in 2015 irrespective of their candidate. The configuration of Adamawa is such that APC and its candidate cannot win the governorship after Nyako’s exit. We have our own game plan.” When contacted by our correspondent, the Special Assistant to Ribadu, Abdulaziz Ahmad Abdulaziz, confirmed that his principal had been under pressure from many quarters to throw his hat in the ring. “Yes, it is true that there have been calls and a lot of pressure for Mallam Ribadu to vie for the Adamawa governorship seat. This comes from various quarters and the agitators have disparate reasons for this. “Those promoting him for the post do so mainly on account of his well known traits of hard work and integrity. He is also seeing as a stabilising factor that has no dent in the eyes of all the communities and power brokers in Adamawa. Their argument is Mallam Ribadu’s experience and expertise is more needed at home. “However, Ribadu’s disposition is in tune with his usual resignation to fate on anything about his life. As someone who knows nothing but public service, his main preoccupation is the impact he would make at any post, not the position. He is always keen to serve his fatherland, which he has demonstrated a number of times. “Ribadu is not known to be desperate for anything and he believes that whatever role God destines him to play in the affairs of this country, it is what he’s going to play.”But all the agitators meeting him, either for the presidency or the Adamawa governorship, his reaction is always that we must wait to reach the bridge before crossing it. This is not yet time for expression of interest. So, he rather waits to see what happens between now and then.”