By Mohammed Ismail
Lately, a tempest inspired by grand conspiracy and gang up to bring down the administration of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu at all cost has been conspicuously brewing in the media space. The henchmen behind these devious plots and Machiavellian machinations know too well that for them to succeed easily in their evil and sneaky schemes, they must attack the moral base of the administration.
One man that has served as the moral beacon of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is the current National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the renowned anti-graft czar who through an unprecedented act of heroism, selflessness, valour, courage patriotism and self conviction single handedly ushered Nigeria into the committee of most respected nations on the earth.
Those gadflies envisaged that the only way they can deal a mortal blow to the administration of Tinubu is to kickstart a smear campaign against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. And the one that will rankle and sell the most is to mirror him as a purveyor and enabler of graft, the scourge he fought all his life, with his life.
That is why in their febrile bid to actualize their diabolic plot, they lost all inhibitions and human empathy as they go for the kill. Without any feeling of remorse or compunction, they contrived what snowballed into a frenzy that has since gone viral like a wild fire with the aim of completely pulverizing Mallam’s reputation. They were so careless that in their imperious move to bring Mallam down, they started what could be aptly described as a child’s play taken too far by spreading mosaic of trifling, belittling and infantile lies which can be punctured even by the most gullible.
In their hurry to indict Mallam, they tried to dress him in the borrowed cassock of corruption, but their conceited deceits failed to fly because Nigerians who know Mallam very well doesn’t waste time in coming to his defense. As a human, one can accuse Mallam of anything but not corruption.
One of such defences came from a retired former assistant commissioner of police, (ACP) Sheriff Abubakar Rabiu who debunked an allegation by one Idris Ahmed to the effect that Rabiu has served as the agent of Mallam who was collecting kickbacks for him when he served as the pioneer EFCC chairman. Nothing can be outrageously laughable. It baffles me that a man who rejected a bribe of $15m dollars in his hey days could assign someone to be collecting crumbs for him as kickbacks. Dr. Idris also alleged that the same Sheriff Abubakar Rabiu still work as security aide to Mallam in his new position as NSA.
In a quick riposte, Rabiu dismissed the allegations of Dr. Ahmed Idris as a fiction and mischief from the pit of hell and challenged him to produce evidence to substantiate his claims. In addition, Rabiu also said he met with Mallam physically twice in his life. Up till now, Dr. Idris Ahmed is yet to come with any evidence against the former ACP.
As if the exchanges between Rabiu and Ahmed did not serve any useful lessons, another purveyor of mischief, Tigran Gambaryan an executive of a crypto company who had a brush with Mallam over allegations of economic sabotage and other sundry infractions, came up with another outlandish lie by accusing Mallam of demanding $150m bribe to fund an illusionary political ambition. Like Ahmed, he did not came up with an ounce of evidence to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and yet he wants to be taken seriously. Like I said before, one is at liberty to accuse Mallam of other infractions but any allegation against him bothering on Patriotism and corruption will never stand.
It is apt to strengthen this discourse by bringing to the fore what made Mallam a rare and exceptional personality and how he distinguished himself in his service to God and motherland so as to refreshen the minds of Nigerians about his uncommon feats and patriotic demeanor which have remained unbreakable till this day.
Before his assumption as the pioneer chairman of Nigeria’s foremost Anti Corruption commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria was almost a pariah nation, because of the pervading menace of sleaze, financial crimes and illicit drug trade that made our motherland to assume the infamous reputation of being the home to some of the most deadliest, notorious and hardened criminals in the world.
As a result of that, Nigeria conspicuously lost out, as no nation wants to do any serious business or render any support to it while Nigerians became the butt of isolation, relegation and rejection at the international stage. On that account Nigerians going to other countries were maligned, mistreated and sneered at by the authorities and residents of their host nations.
Even though Mallam was given the difficult task of cleaning the augean stable at an exuberantly young age, he tackled the challenges of rescuing the nation head on with an uncommon zeal, courage and commitment to the admiration of Nigerians and the international community.
Within the blink of the eye, Nigeria regained its respect, ambience, momentum and gangling reputation as the leader of the black nations and for once, countries across the globe started treating Nigeria and Nigerians with the respect and humility they deserve. The singular action of Mallam also led to Nigeria’s economic rejuvenation punctuated by foreign direct investments (FDIs) which concomitantly bolster our GDP and strengthens our national currency, the naira.
In addition, international donors, development partners and renowned global businesses who hitherto left our shores made a quick detour and made Nigeria their preferred destination culminating into never seen diplomatic and economic renaissance which has for decades defied Nigeria.
The most vital amongst such wins was the debt relief of $18bn granted Nigeria in 2006 by the Paris Club of debtors which led to the overall reduction of Nigeria’s debt stock by $30 billion. The deal was completed on April 21, 2006 when Nigeria made its final payment and the country’s books were cleared of any Paris Club debt.
The road for which Mallam followed to attain these onerous feats was narrow, cunning, sneaky and dangerous. In fact, Mallam has to put the most precious thing he has – his life on the line as he took on some of the world’s acclaimed dangerous criminals, 419ners and drug barons in addition to some of the most corrupt politically exposed persons in the world.
At first, these criminals tried to sway Mallam to join their inglorious fray through enticement, cajoling and mouth watering promises which saw one of them single handedly bribing Mallam to the tune of $15m with a promises of more patronage if Mallam dance to his tune. But we all know how that story ended and what later befell the bribe giver.
Mallam, the courageous slayer of graft will eternally remain Nigeria’s most audacious anti graft fighter in history and for being on the side of the truth and living above board.
History is always on the side of the oppressed.
Ismail, the editor-in-chief of FACTCHECKNEWS writes from Yola.
Opinion expressed in this article may not necessary represent the position of Skydaily editorial. It is entirely the position of the author.
