Part of the most outstanding narrative about the appointment of Malaim Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser (NSA) by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is the template of bridging the gaps and shortening the distance in rejigging the National Security Architecture.
Coming as a fresh breeze with no baggage of corruption and other absurdities, the National Security Adviser is generously endowed with charm and calm mien, easy manners and stable emotions. Exuding uncanny gift of sound knowledge and professionalism as an eagle-eyed corp and an anti-corruption czar, Ribadu with clear distinction in leadership traits falls within the brackets of the gifted in competences, credibility and character.
Born on 21st November 1960 in Yola, Adamawa State, a city with great attributes of nature that could only be rivalled by nature itself, started his early education in Yola. He studied law at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Kaduna State, with a Master’s Degree in Law from the same institution.
With a mindset of effecting a change in what some people consider as job for all comers, Ribadu joined the Nigeria Police Force and rose to the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG). He was the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when the operation of the commission commenced on April 13th 2003. The National Security Adviser is a Senior Fellow and TED fellow at St. Anthony’s College, University of Oxford, UK.
He had a foray in progressive politics in 2011 when he contested and won a Presidential ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). With profound sense of humility and modesty in public life, Ribadu’s attempt to be President of Nigeria, eventually brought him very close to the current President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who became a mentor and more of a “god father” during the campaigns and thereafter.
As a devout Muslim, Ribadu is a detribalized Nigerian with wide contacts that transcend beyond the confines of ethnicity and religion.
It is lamentable that our country today is plagued by challenges of corruption, unmitigated lawlessness, crass impurity, spiraling indiscipline and outrageous security challenges that leaves us paradoxically poor in the midst of plenty. As a very urbane with highly metropolitan standards, Ribadu comes in with dazzling credentials of exceptional brilliance, decency, morality, decorum and honesty in politics and security networking.
With the appointment of the new Service chiefs variously described as hard core professionals with track record of exceptional service in the Nigerian Military, Ribadu must start working in earnest to earn the trust and confidence of Nigerians.
With the assemblage of these dedicated and committed officers, Ribadu should start the process of galvanizing the security system with strategic thinking, innovative contents and outstanding visions to tame the brazen threats to National Security. The issue of National Security Sector reforms should attract a font burners as issues such as funding, manpower, modern equipment and training among the many should be given due attention the need for monitoring and evaluation unit to check fund disbursement, purchase and delivery of appropriate equipment for the armed forces to enable them combat insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping and armed banditry among others, should be formed.
Although the Nigerian Military has been commended for pushing the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram to the fringes of Lake chad, Sambisa Forests and Cameroun Mountains, more need to be done as pockets of attacks and ambushes still exist.
The issue of terror attacks and banditry in the North West, especially in Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara and Katsina has to be looked into for immediate remedial measures. It is a sad story to tell that many villages and towns in Zamfara State have been overrun by bandits as hundreds of children of school age no longer attend schools, while farmers don’t go to farms until ransom is paid. In some places, the bandits are trying to form parallel Government by imposing taxes on citizens and dispensing punishment for non-compliance with their laws.
Although the former Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yerima who visited the President recently had advocated for dialogue instead of full military force, some Emirs within the zone, especially within the Birnin Gwari axis have faulted the call as they urged the Govt. to use the language the bandits understand.
It is heartwarming to note that the UNDP recently announced the donation of $13 million to tackle insecurity in the North West zone and Mal Ribadu and the service chief should use the funds judiciously.
It is of great concern and lamentation that the masses in the North-West have since the better part of the Buhari Administration remain humiliated, brow beaten and terrorized by bandits to the point of submission. The people are looking forward to the Ribadu led security strategy for liberation from the shackles of bandits who are in hurry to remove them from the surface of the earth.
The recent spate of violence, especially tit-for-tat killings in the North Central at large and Plateau state in particular is a source of concern to most security watchers. The raids and clashes between pastoralists and farmers should be looked into with short-term remedial measures but long term permanent solution to the protracted problem.
Non-state actors seems to have taken over the South East. The security system must be rejigged to contain the troubles in this zone as many people believe that Nigeria is at “war” due to the activities of indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Although troubles in the South-South geo-political zone-seems to be on the downward trend, there is the urgent need to critically examine the issue of oil theft in the region.
In conclusion, let me seek refuge under the philosophical dictates of Ralph Waldo Emerson who has been quoted as saying “the world makes way for a man who knows where he is going”. Ribadu should define the narrative.
Ibrahim Modibbo is an Abuja based public affairs analyst
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