I clicked on YouTube to listen to Ribadu. That singular casual action would change my life. Ribadu was the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, and the speech was in reaction to a trending news item where a presidential aspirant from another political party said that Nigerian youths were not capable of leading the country.
Ribadu presented a strong message of hope, renewal and possibilities to the Nigerian youth, whom the British Council, just weeks earlier (in 2010) had declared to be facing a future of what they called ‘Demographic disaster’.
The idea of being a youth leader sank in so much that I pulled up the search engine to get more perspective. I saw an explanation that struck me with insight. It says, “The Youth Leader will be responsible for creating a safe and nurturing environment for young individuals, offering guidance, mentorship, and organising educational and recreational activities. This role aims to empower youth, promote personal development, and foster positive relationships within the community.”
I told myself that I needed a mentor, in order to become a ‘qualified youth leader.’ The next moment, I found myself thinking, no one was qualified than the man through whom I had just received this inspiration.
That was the beginning of my relationship with Ribadu. When we eventually met some years later, I was psychologically prepped for impact. I saw him as a patriot who believed that the foundation of reform is basically to address the problem of mismanagement, incompetence, and the wastages that emanated from corruption and misrule.
Those that do not know him would think he is just another politician here to feather his nest, and then throw dirt at him because he is one of the most prominent advisers in the government. Those that misunderstand him would paint him in the hackneyed and contrived hue of a loose cannon, or ace law enforcement officer out to grind an ax. Those that simply envy his position as a shining star, who enjoys unalloyed goodwill locally and globally, would willfully pervert legitimate instruments of scrutiny into cots of calumny.
Ribadu has demonstrated unwavering commitment to integrity, transparency and good governance throughout his illustrious career as pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He not only fought and defeated corruption, he instilled a new culture in Nigeria and beyond.
This is the same burden he now carries as the National Security Adviser. By the grace of The Almighty, he will succeed this second time. In a country that was literally under siege – by insurgents, bandits and terrorists – before the advent of this present administration, his job has unfairly elevated him to that pedestal where he bears the spirit and the face of our collective advancement in these difficult times of renewal. Therefore, the little we can do is to give him our maximum support.
Hamzat Lawal (Hamzy!) is an activist and currently the chief executive of Connected Development (CODE).
