[center]2011: Ribadu, Oshiomhole, Tinubu in Game Changer[/center]


By Imam Imam, 08.11.2010
The dynamics of the 2011 presidential race may be heading for a dramatic shuffling as the opposition puts its act together, with former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, now in the fray.

THISDAY checks revealed that there are serious consultations currently going on to pair Ribadu with Edo State Governor Adams Oshiom-hole on the presidential ticket of the newly branded Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is expected to become the National Chairman of the party in the emerging calculations to tackle the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has been in power since 1999.
The ACN strategists, THISDAY learnt, have ruled out working with any of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as a presidential candidate because “they represent the old order”.

Buhari was military head of state from 1983 to 1985 while Babangida ruled as military president from 1985 to 1993 before “stepping aside”. Atiku was vice-president to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007. All three are currently in the race.
“There should be a new thinking. We need new leadership in the country. Mr. Barack Obama became President of the United States at 48. The Prime Minister of UK, David Cameron, is 44. His deputy, Nick Clegg, is 43. The President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, is 44.

That is the new spirit. The world will not take us seriously if we continue to present leaders from the generation of (Hosni) Mubarak and (Robert) Mugabe,” a senior party official told the newspaper last night.
The aim of ACN is to transform the polity and change the way things are done in Nigeria, the official further said, emphasising the fact that Ribadu is 49 years old and is respected both nationally and internationally as the new face of leadership in the country.

Sources close to the Ribadu, Oshiomhole and Tinubu said nothing has been finalised yet as “things are still crystallising” and it would be premature “to reach any conclusion”.
“Ribadu has not even joined the party yet, so we cannot be discussing the possibility of him becoming our candidate,” another senior official of the party said. “If he joins today, all things are possible. Our doors are open to all.”
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State , who belongs to the Labour Party (LP), is said to be well disposed to the idea and is ready to work with all progressive-minded politicians to form a major movement across the country for the actualisation of “the dream”.

Ribadu himself has made some extensive visits to politicians in Southern Nigeria in what is seen as consultative meetings.
Commenting on the development last night, Oshiomhole refused to rule it out, but said he was more concerned with “delivering the goods” to the people of his state and freeing them from the stranglehold of godfathers.

“I’m focussed on Edo State . I don’t want to be distracted by the talk of presidential race. We are focussed on how to use Edo money to develop the state rather than give our resources to godfathers as was being done in the past,” he said.
AC on Monday changed its name to ACN to give it a national outlook. Party chairman Chief Bisi Akande said the move was informed by relentless attempts by the PDP to whittle down the relevance of all opposition parties and consequently turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

He narrated how the PDP allegedly infiltrated the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and brought its governments in Abia and Imo states to its knees, adding that PDP also hijacked the governments of the ANPP in Bauchi and Zamfara by manipulating the defection of the governors from their original platforms to the PDP.
According to him, the ruling ANPP in Kano State today is lonely because the PDP has opted to use the ANPP government in Borno as “the nemesis for ANPP government in Kano State ”.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=180460

How valid is this?

It is a combination that will take us to the promise land.
I hope it will work,

Ribadu can not contest against Jonathan

vinooh:

Ribadu can not contest against Jonathan

why? If you think Ribadu is now Jonathan's servant because Mr. President simply did the right thing , by ending the vendetta-driven and unjust persecution of the former EFCC boss, then you don't know Ribadu. Ribadu is not a coward ready to be suppressed by those in power. He is also not a sycophant who will jettison what he believes in (a better Nigeria) because of a misguided sense of gratitude.

If you had noted what Ribadu had been doing in exile you will see that his passion for Nigeria is genuine. Nobody can supress that kind of passion. If Ribadu does not run it will be because he is not ready/interested.

vinooh:

Ribadu can not contest against Jonathan

Don't rule out anything in politics. Given the uncertainty ahead, it may also be in Jonathan's interest for Ribadu, whom he rehabilitated, to be in the race.