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| Mallam Nuhu Ribadu |
by: John Shiklam in KadunaJohn Shiklam in Kaduna
The former Chairman
of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Presidential candidate
of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, saturday declared that Nigeria will not break
up, despite campaigns by those he
described as unpatriotic politicians and
ethnic jingoists to ensure the disintegration of the country.
Ribadu made the
declaration at a public lecture organised by the Students Representative
Council (SRC) of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, maintaining
that time has come for Nigerian youths to stand up and defend the
nation’s unity and also fight against
retrogressive elements who are working against the growth and
development of the nation.
In his paper, titled “Political Engagement: A New
Approach...Youth: The Fulcrum of Every Society”, Ribadu said “the biggest
illusion we have lived in as a people, is believing the cry heard from various
corners that Nigeria is an unnatural entity coerced together .“
He said such thinking
was a very inaccurate judgement.
He lashed out at some leaders, who according to him,
were using ethnic and religious factor
as a political weapon to sustain themselves in public office and urged the
youth to shun such divisive tendencies and work together for a strong and
united Nigeria.
While canvassing for a dynamic change for the nation in the
area of politics, social and economic development, Ribadu stressed that such
change should lead to a functional society and a new Nigeria in the near
future.
According to him, “change, in this time of political anarchy
is the wisdom to see through the propagandas designed to destabilise the
country. Change, in this trying time, is the strength to stand together despite
the blowups of bombs-per-meter-square in our land.”
He noted that in 1999 when the country returned to
democratic rule, Nigerians were hopeful for
a civilian government in which everyone would be active an participant,
lamenting however that “our democracy
has led into chaos where the who and the what of our identifications are
colourfully worn to pronounce our differences and divides”.
He said the future of a strong, united and prosperous
Nigeria was in the hands of the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and
urged them to be patriotic and avoid being used by unpatriotic people to
undermine the nation.
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