Why Ribadu fell out with Jonathan

Fresh facts have emerged as to why ex EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu, fell out with President Goodluck Jonathan shortly after the former returned from self imposed exile in the United States.

When Jonathan visited the United States, he met privately with Ribadu, where he prevailed on the ex anti-corruption boss to return home and play an important role in his administration.

Pointblanknews.com sources disclosed that Jonathan had two positions in mind for Ribadu, either Special Adviser on Anti-Corruption and Good Governance or Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Considering the hitherto goodwill he enjoyed both home and abroad, and the propaganda machine of Ribadu which peddled his alleged persecution by the late Umaru Yar'Adua administration, Jonathan decided to give Ribadu a soft landing. He ensured the non declaration of asset charge was dropped; he was reinstated by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), while the allegations of misappropriation of convicts funds, and assets while he was EFFC boss were downplayed.

Nuhu Ribadu
Pointblanknews.com learnt that on arrival, Ribadu had another meeting with the President were the President reiterated the need for Ribadu to work with him. But sources close to the Presidency and Ribadu, told Pointblanknews.com that he rejected the offer.

According to our sources, to the chagrin of Jonathan, Ribadu said he wanted Gen. Aliyu Gusau fired and he be made National Security Adviser (NSA), or at worst he be made the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Jonathan, it was learnt, bluntly refused; maintaining that there was no way he (Ribadu) could be made NSA, or INEC chairman. Our source hinted that he told Ribadu that he was not experienced enough in security matters to hold the office of NSA, considering the fact that he was an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), before his rapid promotion to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

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On the INEC job, Pointblanknews.com sources said, the President told him, he had penciled down three names, with Prof. Attahiru Jega on top of that list. However, there was pressure for the President to make someone in the academia, INEC boss, so the he settled for Jega.

Pointblanknews.com sources disclosed further that when Ribadu couldn't get the NSA or INEC job, he decided to dump Jonathan and the PDP and seek relevance elsewhere. So when some emissaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), came he was willing to listen.

Said our source “Ribadu is considered to be ungrateful to the President. When the President came to the US, he met with him and assured him he would be part of his administration. So when he came back, the federal government ensured all those baggage like the declaration of asset charge, and the trouble he had with the police were taken care of. The President had wanted him to be Senior Special Adviser, Anti corruption, or INEC boss, but the INEC thing did not work because of pressure to pick someone from the academia. Ribadu rejected the Anti corruption offer and insisted on either the NSA job or INEC boss.”

Our source said further “So when the president would not bulge, Ribadu decided to move somewhere else. He started talking with the ACN which was looking for candidates for their Presidential slot from the north.

According to our source, El-Rufai felt out with Ribadu because there was an agreement between them that they should work with Jonathan, and ensure they play visible roles in his administration after 2011, or support him (Rufai) for presidency.

The duo has now reconciled.
But first sign of trouble came when Ribadu set up the Good Governance Group,(GGG), and words filtered to Rufai that his pal was insisting on the INEC or NSA job or nothing. Rufai was also miffed by the fact that that Ribadu was using the GGG to negotiate with the ACN to run as its presidential candidate.

Shortly after, Rufai took swipes at Ribadu, tagging him inexperienced to run for Presidency.

All efforts to get Ribadu's reaction failed but one of his aides, Chido Onumah was nuanced in his reaction. Asked if his boss wanted the job of NSA, Onumah, in a telephone conversation said “ I know some of the issues, and I have my take on them, but I will want him (Ribadu) to personally react to them.”