Nuhu Ribadu Declares his Intention for 2011 Nigeria Presential Race

[MyInfoStride]

Former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, has declared in a meeting with some media chiefs today in Abuja that he does not plan to wait till 2015 before remaking a new Nigeria. He shot back at political pundits who said he lacks the " experience"  to govern Nigeria. This is a raw transcript of the encounter.
               

Which platform will you use to contest for 2011 poll?

I will rather ask that you give me time please.

Are you still consulting?

Yes, I am still consulting but it is going to be very soon because there is no time. It is going to be very, very soon that we are going to make a decision on that. Like I said, my believe is that the possibility of all of us coming together must be exhausted full blast to see the chance for us to move a way in which we will give our country a platform that is going to be national.

Is the platform PDP or not?

Just wait.

Have you ever had any offer from PDP?

Never, never.

But which party?

It is not the time to make this thing out yet. There will be a lot of time to talk and so much to talk about PDP. We will educate Nigeria about PDP and what I consider the future of our country. I have a dream of a new Nigeria; I have the dream of a changed Nigeria. I want to see if there is a possibility of opening a new chapter, for the country. And those who are in charge somehow certainly need to give chance for the country to move forward.

As a former EFCC chairman, won't those corrupt elements fight you back and prevent you from becoming the nation's President?

I have always been fighting in my life. When I was in the Police Force, I fought armed robbers, I survived. I fought gangsters, I fought 419 fraudsters, big time corrupt people and I have survived. I am still standing as Nuhu Ribadu; I believe I will also survive this.

Can you confirm or deny that you have written to the Labour Party to be its presidential candidate?

No.

Are you carrying any party card now?

Not yet.

Are you planning to be President in 2011 or 2015?

For God's sake, what is the issue about 2015? Are we yet there? Have we conducted the 2011 elections? How can you talk about 2015? You think the country should continue sleeping till 2015. You think that you are comfortable with the situation today. I love my country; Nigeria has no time to wait anymore.

Are you saying the old brigade politicians should give way?

My coming is going to be like the best Nigerian should come forward whether you are old or new or woman or man. It has to be all of us and I want to be part of that team that would certainly save our country and give it a new lease of life.

I won't want to categorize it as a generational thing. But certainly, you know what I am now, and if you want to judge it on the basis of that.

I want to see the possibility of capturing the vision of majority of Nigerians who today are the young ones. And I certainly belong to that.

Aren't you afraid of political Goliaths like President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-President Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Head of State Muhammadu Buhari and ex-VP Atiku Abubakar?

But David won goliath eventually. Pray that I will be the David.

Can you be more forthcoming on the elective post you are vying for in 2011?

Ribadu: What do you think I am fit for? I have always been a Federal person. I have experience in public service. I had put 25 years of my life into the service of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the Executive capacity. After that, of course, I served outside Nigeria. I have worked and acquired international experience. It is for you to decide where I fit in best.

Is it presidency?

Of course. What else because I have served 25 years of my life, I have given it to the nation. I had the chance to set up an agency (EFCC); I ran it for five years. I was in an Economic Team. I was a Federal Prosecutor, probably more than any other person in that capacity. I was a police officer, a community worker, I put all my life into public service at the Federal Government level. It is only natural for you to really put that into where the experience can best count.

What will be your number one priority if you become the President? Or, what are your priorities?

I want to remake Nigeria.

How?

I want to remake Nigeria. The point is: Remake means a new thing, a fresh thing, a fresh hub, a chance for us to love ourselves to build a nation out of our own country. I want to immediately, instantly provide those basic things. They are so important to us. I must insist that we must have security immediately, instantly there is no time to waste on that. I want to see that we can immediately solve the problem of power.

How can you address power problem?

I will do it; I will come out with my programme and policy. It is not something you can give in one word. I want to make a full stop to corruption finally. I want to ensure from now on that Nigerians are going to enjoy free and fair Education. I want to ensure that we will have good and decent hospitals. We will have hospitals, we don't have to go out of the country and spend our money to build others like in India, Egypt and Ghana. Time has come for us to build our own. I want to make sure that this money that goes out as school fees that we go to pay in the UK, Ghana, and everywhere is going to stop immediately. We must have the schools that will give us the best in our own country. I want to see that Nigeria will be able to give jobs to its young ones. I want to see a Nigeria that probably will have the chance to industrialize. I want to see a Nigeria that will give justice to its own people; justice across; justice that can give a chance to us to have peace and stability for us to grow. I want to see the possibility of giving our country opportunity of equal treatment, fairness, respect to people. I want to see if it is possible for us to give a leadership that can listen; leadership that can take advice; leadership that is going to be collective.

In other words, I want a new Nigeria. A new Nigeria is possible and there is no time to waste at all. Like I said the detailed programmes will come out. We are going to be precise and very clear programmes and policies on how to go about it.

But the intention is there. Something is burning in all of us to save our own country. We love our country, we must fight for our country, we must work for our country. We want to bring out the energy in all of us and see if we can make a country that all of us will be proud of, a Nigeria that will be respected by the world, a Nigeria that will have a voice, a Nigeria that will play its own role assigned to it by God and destiny.

What of Nigerians in the Diaspora?

They must come in and participate fully because they constitute some of our best. Nigeria educated them, spent money on them.

Source: I am Running For President Now, Nigeria Can't Wait Till 2015-Nuhu Ribadu  | Sahara Reporters.

[MyWorld]

Amazing! Nuhu Ribadu has declared his intent in respect of 2011 presidential race in Nigeria.

Is the man our messaiah?

Can he do the job?

Can Nigerians testify to his performance?

Let us discuss here...

[MyInfoStride]

Ribadu Writes A Letter Announcing Presidential Run-"A New Nigeria, Our Time Is Now!"

My Brothers and Sisters: It is with deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility that I am writing to inform you of my intention to join politics and seek your support to participate in the forthcoming general elections.

I am joining politics because the principles and values in which I believe have obliged me to do so. A new Nigeria, a better Nigeria, is not only possible: it is something we desperately need. After extensive consultations across the country with opinion leaders, political figures, youth activists, the business community and – above all  - with ordinary Nigerians, I am convinced and encouraged by the fact that millions of Nigerians share my belief in those principles; and for that reason I would like to inform you of my intention to contest for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We are a hard-working, proud and God-fearing people. Despite the sacrifices and achievements of so many. 50 years of independence has failed to deliver a nation that can make us proud. In other words, most Nigerians have yet to appreciate the true meaning of independence or see the benefits from it.

We see division where there should be unity, poverty amid plenty and fear instead of justice. Our common resources have been plundered for the benefit of a tiny minority. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Armed robbery and violent crime are commonplace; honest hard work goes unrewarded. The framework of law and order, the foundation of all civilized communities, is breaking down.

Where government should have shaped progress, too often at all levels, corruption and incompetence have held us back. It is more than a decade since the military returned to barracks but we have yet to build a genuine democracy based on integrity, accountability and the will of the people.

The past might have been cloudy but the future can be bright, and as the saying goes, it is better to light a candle than continue to curse darkness. Now is the time to move forward.

With the love of God and country, I believe I am capable and can play a great role in fixing Nigeria. I have served Nigeria all my life: as  a police officer, prosecutor, architect of an unprecedented anti-corruption initiative and, from the heart of the federal government, a leading advocate of economic and political reform.

I am not a politician. But I have seen how politics works and I am here because of where we are as a nation and where I fear we are headed. In office, what I said I would do, I did. This same promise I make now: together we will re-establish the rule of law and do away  with the culture of impunity, inertia and helplessness. We will once and for all kill the cancer that is corruption.

We should be able to feel safe in our homes, and proud of our schools and hospitals. As parents, should be able to look forward to a better future for our children. We should have the electricity, water and public services that even our neighbours take for granted. There must be jobs for our youth and empowerment for our women. We must have a political culture that earns and deserves respect by its deed and actions.

This is my pledge to Nigeria.

I intend to achieve these goals through hard work, respect for our people and an inclusive sense of a patriotism that celebrates all that is best about our diversity: together, we are so much more than the sum of our parts. I will run a transparent and accountable government. I will assemble a competent team and allow dialogue but most importantly, I will be a listening leader.

I believe Nigeria can be turned into a country that makes us proud and I am encouraged by the mood of change sweeping the nation today. We must have free and fair elections, the people must decide and their mandate must be honoured.  Let us debate honestly and openly about our policies and vision for the future; and on our record in public life in the past.

Let us seize the opportunity of the moment to build a new Nigeria. I want to put myself in the lead to bring this desired change.

Details of my programs will follow in due course but for now I ask for your support.

By: Nuhu Ribadu

Source: Ribadu Writes A Letter Announcing Presidential Run-"A New Nigeria, Our Time Is Now!" | Sahara Reporters.