Nuhu Ribadu Formally Declares For PDP In Adamawa

Yola capital of Adamawa state was today agog with a formal declaration of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, a former police officer and anti-corruption czar into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ribadu also declared his intention to run for governor in the upcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

Ribadu, who was received by crowd at the Yola Airport, proceeded to the PDP secretariat where was received by officials of the party.

Several members of his former party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) also decamped to the PDP.

In his remarks at the party secretariat, he said, “Today is a happy day for me. I am awed and inspired even further by the cheerful crowd that received me at the airport and which has come with me to this place. Whatever way I turn, I feel a sense of boundless happiness at coming home, more so now with a mission to be accomplished; a task dear to the hearts of all the people of Adamawa State. This is, therefore, not an ordinary day for me, and as indeed it is not for the rest of the patriotic citizens of this State – we are here on the march of history. 

“I would like to appreciate those members of the PDP who privately and publicly prodded me to join this party. My appreciation also to the leadership of our party (PDP) for the warm reception accorded me deserving of any full-fledged party stalwart. This kind reception did not start today; it began from the day I signified the intention of joining this great party. Today, I come to you as a full blown party member which defines himself in the spirit of community service and party development.”

Ribadu, who said his ambition is tilted towards service, also stated,  “The trigger of me being here today is the passion to uplift that I have; it is that spirit with which I am known, all my life. It is that zeal that saw me going into the police, as against obviously more lucrative career paths. My philosophy, as we were taught, is that one should put the interest of the public over any other consideration. In life of service, one’s first consideration should be the impact one makes under the circumstance. It is, therefore, that same will to serve that is responsible for me respecting and answering to the people’s choice to come back home and serve the people of Adamawa State under the platform of the PDP.

“Let me declare that I am here as an ordinary PDP member whose personal aspiration is organically tied to the best aspiration and progress of all people of this great state. I am not here on anyone’s errand. I want to stress the point also that I am here on my own and thus prepare to subject myself to all norms and protocols of the party. I preach respect of law and order and the respect for constituted authorities, anywhere I go. It is a template of my action and conduct. I, therefore, cannot breach the teachings of my gospel. I anticipate participation in all democratic processes that would lead to the emergence of a candidate for the Party. What I would however appeal for is for the party to also treat all of us as its members with equal rights. We should all be treated with fairness in a transparent manner that is the hallmark of democracy.”

He also appeals to other contestants to play issue-based politics saying, “I would appeal to all political actors in the state, especially my fellow aspirants to go into the field armed with our rules of engagements. No one’s ambition is worth the peace and stability of our people. We should eschew antagonism or stoking primordial sentiments. Elections would come and go, but the people will always be together. Damaging the harmony we enjoy as a people would have dire consequences on all of us and is the gravest disservice anyone can do for our dear state.”