"JONATHAN FOR PRESIDENT AND/OR NUHU RIBADU"

This is a guest post from Nelson Abbey.

When I was a teenager, like most teenagers, I got into a lot of trouble. I was sent to Nigeria to go and “cool off” – as my mother put it.

I arrived in Nigeria in 1993 - the latter days of the Babangida era. And, more importantly, the run up to the June 12th elections. Largely considered Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections ever.

Like most people in Nigeria at the time, I found that election fascinating. I’d never seen anything like it. And I’ve not seen anything like it since. The buzz was amazing. The jingles run in my head till this very day –

“Pickin dey get wahala

Mama dey get wahala

Papa dey get wahala

Who be the answer?

Abiola, Abiola na the answer Abiola!”

I was sent to school in Abeokuta. To be precise: the exact school MKO Abiola himself went to. The buzz in Abeokuta was greater than it was in Lagos. The election had the nation in an elated mood. Nigeria was happy. It seemed like we were about to be rid of the soldiers. Rid of Babangida. A new day.

Perhaps I was young and naive. Perhaps I bought into the propaganda or was full of irrational hope. Perhaps I was even all of the above, but I believed Abiola. I believed in what Abiola represented. In him I saw a good man. A self-made man. A Nigerian patriot here to take us to the next plateau. I was enthused to say the least. We all were.

And then, of course, it happened…

I was 12 when the election annulment was announced. I am 30 years old now. I didn’t understand it or believe it then. I’m still puzzled and enraged by it today. I still feel robbed. The riots broke out and I took to the streets with mechanics, ruffians, die-hard patriots and people who just saw their hopes and dreams dashed. You may have seen me - a chubby British-accented child rioting in Abeokuta circa 1993.

Instead of Abiola and hope, we got Abacha, Indian prostitutes (has this been established as a fact yet?) and hate. And the rest, as they say, is misery.

Nonetheless, a wounded Nigeria marched on. When Yar’Adua fell sick and everyone was complaining about him being away for so long I saw it differently. I wondered how it would pan out and what opportunities it would present.

I thought the military might make a move. But I knew that Nigeria couldn’t stomach another soldier. What I found fascinating and unusual was the relative calm of Goodluck Jonathan. As opposed to acting like a power-crazed mad-man he took his time. He remained loyal. Loyal to the Presidency. Loyal to the constitution. Loyal to the desires of the Nigerian people. It is an admirable quality to be so close to the seat of power but smart enough not to take the bait at the first sign of cheap opportunity.

Eventually, Jonathan was declared acting President. Here was not a petty tribesman. Not a corrupt General. But a Nigerian as I knew Nigerians to be – smart, thoughtful, happy, intelligent and collected. Comfortable in his own skin. His interview on CNN sent shivers up my spine. For the first time I sat in front of a TV screen watching a Nigerian President give a great and uplifting interview. I felt hopeful that we were back on track. Even though little had happened.

Will he part the Red Sea? That’s yet to be seen (a concept known as humour) but every so often a nation needs a landmark leader that has the gravitas to make them feel good about being them. Obama does this. Reagan, for better or worse, did this. Churchill did this. Mandela did this. Nasser did this. Abiola did it as a candidate. I believe that Goodluck Jonathan is doing this.

I, Nelson Abbey, earnestly ask for Goodluck Jonathan.

Unless… that is, Nuhu Ribadu decides to run.

Nuhu Ribadu is Nigeria’s very own Superman. An undisputed top-cop. An anti-corruption crusader that would make almost all of the Nigerian corruptoclass shake in their boots. His track record speaks for itself: he indicted his own boss; he turned down massive bribes; he stood tall and firm in the face of potential personal calamity. This has to be admired. And hopefully, rewarded.

Needless to say, the corruption issue in Nigeria has to be resolved as a matter of national emergency. Here is a personal example why:

Ribadu’s work at the EFCC was critical. And he was doing a great job. He fearlessly confronted and arrested Chief after General after Inspector General after Minister after Governor. He did us proud. He began to clean up. So much so that he even fingered President Olusegun Obasanjo himself as a potential case. Unbelievable. Unprecedented in Nigerian history.

And then, of course, it happened…

Ribadu was nearly assassinated then he was sent to go and “study”. Sigh. Then he had to flee to the UK. Yet another one of our best and brightest- one that has proven to be effective- languishing away in a rich foreign country that does not need, nor care for him.

Source: 234next.com

Things change. Now Ribadu is back in Nigeria and he is rumoured to be on the verge of announcing his candidacy.

Like Goodluck, Ribadu is what Nigeria needs. An honest, bankable, serious and learned leader. A person of principle. Certainly not Babangida. In fact, anyone is better than IBB – pardon how explicit I’ll be, but to me, Babangida’s candidacy is the equivalent of an unrepentant rapist asking his victim to date him years after the fact.

I digress.

Brothers and sisters, recognise good news when it is delivered. This is not that. This is great news. Ribadu and Jonathan. Both of these men are clear departures from the norm and dedicated to reform. Dedicated, it would appear, to Nigeria.

If they both run, I’ll be faced with a dilemma of who to support. If they run on the same ticket it will be the equivalent of political erotica with me as one of millions of stimulated, salivating, horny, viewers. Bring it on baby!

Either way the candidacy of both of these men is critical to Nigeria. We need a unifying, principled and progressive leader that makes Nigeria feel good about Nigeria. We need these type of people.

For me this election journey started off as ‘anyone but IBB’ but now it is looking to shape up into the most exciting Nigerian election ever. It is the potential candidacy of these two men, of Ribadu and Jonathan, that makes me think that it may be time for us to truly move past June 12th.

Nigeria did not die on the 12th of June 1993. Nigeria did not die on the 7th of July 1998. Nigeria rioted, demonstrated and mourned on those two days. And then rested. Nigeria is now waking up. Mark these words, soon we’ll step up.

As well as excitement and elation let’s hope it is also the freest and fairest election we’ve ever held (and I don’t mean by transcending low expectations). Let’s pray it is not annulled by some tint-shaded comedic General… but hey, just in case it is… then keep an eye out for the chubby 30-year-old British accented man rioting away in Abeokuta.


Much thanks to Nelson Abbey for contributing to Nigerian Curiosity as the Honorary Guest Writer for August 2010. Nelson is a highly respected London-based writer and political commentator who works in finance and loves football. He has contributed to the BBC on matters of Nigerian football. He can be reached at NelsonAbbey(at)Gmail(dot)com.

If you would like to be a Guest Writer for Nigerian Curiosity, please use the 'Contact' button above to reach SolomonSydelle, the blog administrator.

Please read other contributions from previous Nigerian Curiosity Guest Writers -
- Dr. Joseph Okpaku's Barack Obama & America: Who Needs Who More
- Osize's 'Economics of Nollywood: Price'
- Aloofar's 'When Will Nigerians Have Enough?'
- Tosin's 'Fantasy Federal Executive Council Team'
- Temie's 'Sweetening Motherhood' 
- Tosin's 'Prophecy I - Blame Game' 
- No Limit's 'Corruption is not Nigeria's Problem'