Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), says a statement alleging that President Muhammadu
Buhari recruited bandits to oust former President Goodluck Jonathan is not from
him.
The statement, which is spreading across social media and
purportedly credited to Ribadu, gave an unverified account of the origin of
banditry in the country.
It alleged that Buhari sought the services of the
mercenaries, who were recruited from neighbouring countries, to claim power for
the Fulani group in case he loses the 2015 presidential election.
The statement said the services of the bandits were no longer
needed after Buhari won the election, forcing them to invade people’s homes for
food and other basic needs.
“It all started in April 2014 when Mohammadu Buhari
assembled his ardent supporters, promoters and strategists to determine how to
remove President Jonathan Goodluck. Prominent amongst them were El-Rufai, Gen
Danbazo (Rtd),” the fictitious statement read.
“A decision was reached to consult Miyatti Allah cattle
breeders association for assistance to boot Jonathan Goodluck out of office.
Consequently, the National Chairman of Miyatti Allah was engaged to bring in
foreign mercenaries. Within a month, 2,000 Fulani fighters were brought in from
Mali, Senegal, Niger Republic, Chad, Libya to name but a few. Further 4,000
fighters were stationed in Niger and Chad on standby.
“On arrival, they were assembled in Kaduna under the
sponsorship of El Rufai and were addressed by various Northern Leaders
including the Sultan of Sokoto, Gen Buhari (Rtd) etc.
“Specifically, Gen Buhari in his address told the fighters
that “the British handed Nigeria over to us the Fulanis at independence. The
land (Nigeria) belongs to us. We must reclaim what belongs to us.”He added that
at the event that Jonathan Goodluck worn the election, the Fulani machinery
must fight until they regain control of the country. He assured them that the
Nigerian Army was behind them.”
It was also alleged that Godwin Emefiele, governor of
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), raised N100 billion for the settlement of the
bandits as a condition for his re-appointment, but nothing changed.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Ribadu dissociated
himself from the report, saying the statement is not from him.
He said the statement was first shared in June 2019, and
that he released a disclaimer via his Twitter account on July 17.
The former EFCC chairman asked security agencies to
investigate the origin of the message and prosecute those behind it.
He also asked the public to disregard the message, which he
described as “clear inanity and cheap blackmail”.
“But to my chagrin, over six months after the initial
rebuttal, the manufacturers of the hateful message and their co-travelers,
those who peddle whatever is capable of creating disaffection are back at it,”
he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never at any time wrote
or said those words being attributed to me. I have no knowledge of the details
contained in the disjointed propaganda message in circulation and I urge the
public to disregard it.
“I also appeal to concerned security agencies to investigate
the genesis of the fake message and fish out the perpetrators. Purveyors of
fake news, more so one that is clearly a threat to national security should not
be allowed to thrive.”
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