By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & HENRY UMORU
LAGOS — ACTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, presidential candidate, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday, blasted the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, as an insincere body using the name of the North to protect the selfish interests of its members.

Expressing concern why the body would not back any other Northern presidential candidate apart from erstwhile Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Ribadu Campaign in a statement said it was surprised that the Northern Elders could waive aside what it described as Ribadu’s meritorious record in public service and fighting corruption.

Contacted on the development, a sombre Ciroma preferred to remain mute on the allegation only saying, “I have nothing to say.”
Ribadu’s reaction was in response to Monday’s communiqué of the NPLF in which the body blasted the recent political party primaries of all the major political parties and noted that the nation was headed for the precipice with the outcome of the primaries.

Director of Media, Ribadu Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Ibrahim Modibo, while flaying the communiqué acknowledged that though “the Northern Elders were actually looking for a northern candidate under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, they had all along created the impression that they were looking for someone who would represent the interest of the entire North and not that of a section of the North.”

Following the outcome of the presidential primaries which threw up President Goodluck Jonathan from the South, the Ribadu Organisation “wondered why the Elders forum would not back another northerner other than Atiku Abubakar if they were really out to protect the interest of the North.” It said: “With this development it is likely that the northern elders were actually looking for someone who would protect their interest and not that of the North.”

Public service experience

Further noting that Ribadu was more experienced in public service than any other presidential candidate, the campaign organisation said: “Ribadu is the only candidate with vast experience in public  service. He saw the corruption there and spent his entire life  fighting it, both as a law officer and a lawyer. He led men and women of this great country to achieve convictions and solve crimes; the kind that we have never seen before nor since he left.

“As a junior police officer, but a qualified lawyer, Ribadu worked in places like Mushin and Ajegunle where he excelled. His international credibility is unmatchable, and he commands a large followership among the youth for his hard work and results.”

Noting that Ribadu made good use of his time in exile to gain vital leadership skills in Harvard and Oxford universities, Modibo said: “If his competence or integrity were in doubt, he would never have been asked to join a three_man committee of eminent personalities to help check corruption in Afganistan. This man rejected a $15 million dollar bribe. You can’t say the same about some of the men in President Goodluck’s Campaign organization.”

Modibbo asked Nigerians to vote for competence, and not sentiments, “because sentiments won’t put food on our tables.”
He said: “Let us ask the right questions. Can the PDP-Leopard change it’s shameful spots of ineptitude, corruption and economic stagnation overnight? The answer is no. ”

Ribadu represents the generational shift, the kind that has swept great nations like Russia, France and Germany and even Bostwana, to greatness. It is the change that will jumpstart change in Nigeria. ”