Tigran Gambaryan (forgive my copy and paste), the head of financial crime at Binance, has leveled wild allegations against Nigerian National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Gambaryan claimed that “Ribadu wanted billions (from him) in payouts to fund his future political ambition.” He however did not provide a scintilla of evidence.
Ribadu may be tough or unforgiving to some people, but certainly NOT corrupt. It is a trite that Ribadu is incorruptible. I am not manufacturing the facts. He demonstrated high level of integrity when he rejected $15m bribe from a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori. In September 2013, Ribadu testified before a Crown Court in London that Ibori provided the money to him in cash. His testimony was admitted and Ibori was convicted.
Nigerian political firmament is like a jungle, where all manner of animals habitate. If you want to join politics, prepare to wine and dine with all manner of people – from a motor-park tout to a convicted felon. The political parties are all the same. If you want to win election in Delta State, you still have meet James Ibori, just as Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye still hold some level of influence in Taraba and Plateau States respectively.
To some extent, I see Ribadu as a superego to the soul of APC, by checkmating the excesses of some of the ruling party leaders. But for Ribadu’s refusal to accede to Nyesom Wike’s excesses, the garrulous minister would have had an upper hand against Fubara in Rivers. Without Ribadu in APC, the ruling party would have taken Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, etc in court. He stood with the opposition governors at the time the wolves in his party were baying for their mandates at the Supreme Court.
The general assumption is that ALL Nigerians are corrupt. Gambaryan should know that even Nazi Party that produced Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Goring and Joseph Goebbels, had a good man, Oskar Schindler.
By Jaafar Jaafar
