Daily Independent (Lagos)
Rafiu Ajakaiye
24 November 2008
Lagos — Nuhu Ribadu does not deserve the treatment being meted out to him, including being denied graduation from NIPSS, Nigeria's leading rights groups insisted on Sunday, amid allegations that Aso Rock has a hand in the humiliation of the former anti-graft campaign czar.
Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), United Action for Democracy (UAD), and the Campaign for Democracy (CD) said in separate interviews that Ribadu was being "persecuted for standing up to corruption" and demanded that his fundamental human rights be respected.
They went on to accuse President Umaru Yar'Adua of pandering to the whims of those wanting to halt the corruption crusade and of going about the Ribadu issues with a "fascist agenda".
Today, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, is expected to issue a statement from the United States condemning the action and possibly calling on world leaders, especially first African American President, Barack Obama, to disregard the administration of Yar'Adua and its rule of law mantra.
"It is very important that we understand that Ribadu was never personally responsible for circumstances concerning the two issues for which he is being forced to suffer a seemingly unending humiliation," CLO President, Titus Mann, argued.
"First was the reversal of his promotion and now his being denied the certificate for the NIPSS course by that institute's authorities, who permitted Ribadu to continue his studies there, even after they knew that he no longer was of the rank to qualify him for remain for the course.
"The authorities concerned, particularly the police, NIPSS and the presidency, have handled the Ribadu matter in a manner that takes mean spiritedness to dangerous and unprecedented low levels."
Mann said the treatment was undeserved, regardless of what Ribadu did as the EFCC chairman.
His words: "While we seriously disagreed with, and condemned, the brazenly unlawful methods that were too frequently employed by the EFCC under Ribadu's charge in the name of fighting corruption, it does not justify his persecution, which goes on in pursuit of what seems to be vindictive quest. It is sad that and most dangerous that Ribadu's ordeal is being orchestrated at such high levels of authority."
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at this rate of low road politics, there is nothing good that will come out of yar adua,s government. they are all looters waiting in the wings. nigerians will quote me when the time is right. i am as usual, CAPITAL G.C.