We oppose the illegal "dismissal" of AIG Nuhu Ribadu from the Nigeria Police Force Ribadu's dismissal is clearly the act of an evil, lawless and corrupt government. -Human rights activist and lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist; And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist; And then they came for the Jews, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew; And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up. - Pastor Martin Niemoller It is unfortunate that the Yar'Adua administration has spent so much time and energy hounding an individual; it is tragic that it has decided to make the humiliation of Ribadu the centre piece of its anti-corruption fight, trading its seven-point development agenda for the infernal four-point agenda of venal politicians: The removal of Ribadu as chair of EFCC; his demotion; dismissal from the police force; and imprisonment. The EFCC under Ribadu was a strong organisation. It may have had its shortcomings. But these were problems that would have been corrected as the country matured democratically, and as the man who set it up and whom critics accused of interfering with its operations was no longer in charge. Under Ribadu, there were prosecutions, convictions, and recovery of stolen wealth; he ran an efficient and effective organisation, one that had focus, even if occasionally abrasive. Ribadu was dedicated to his job. He was deeply concerned about how he would be judged and he wanted posterity to judge him positively. Today, the war against corruption is all but grounded. All we hear from the current leadership of the EFCC is news of renewed looting spree by government officials and billions of naira in stolen wealth being siphoned out of the country everyday by corrupt politicians and their accomplices. The persecution of Nuhu Ribadu must not go unchallenged. We the masses must be seen and felt to have done something in defence of a man who gave his all to his country. This is not about Nuhu Ribadu, but about the weight of damage this will have on the patriotic spirit of every Nigerian. If we allow this, the corrupt politicians, particularly, the thieving governors would have won!

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