Nuhu Ribadu: I am not an apostate

Malam Nuhu Ribadu has debunked all the statements credited to him in which he was alleged to have committed apostasy by  attacking his former allies in the All Progressives Congress, saying they were the handiwork of  mischievous characters.

According to a posting on his Facebook page today, Ribadu, whose surrogate picked an N11 million nomination form on his behalf to contest the Adamawa state governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, explained why he left the APC to join the PDP, a party he had called a nest of corrupt people and looters.

Here is his full statement:

“My good friends, I know how difficult it may be for you to come to terms with my defection to another party.

“But I must assure you that it’s a carefully considered decision for which I do not wish to hurt anyone’s feeling.

“I’ll not embark on a needless animosity with my good friends, irrespective of political, religious, regional and ethnic affiliations. Let me quickly make it known that I did not issue a statement disparaging APC and its members, including Governors Amaechi, Kwankwaso… These were clearly fabricated, expected backlash, by mischievous characters interested in misleading the public and drawing a picture of non-existent feuds between me and my good friends.

My defection shouldn’t be seen as an initiation of political antagonism with my good friends in another party. I still hold them in high esteem, and even where there are marked differences, I believe there are decorous and honourable ways of resolving them.

So, kindly disregard any statement said to be by me attacking the personality of any politician since my defection. I’ll never allow myself to be drawn into such disrespectful exchange.

As for my next step in this political struggle, this would be made known in due time. For now, I wish to assure you that my defection is in pursuit of a good cause, and never out of any selfish interests as portrayed by a section.

Thanks for bearing with me on this decision, and for those who have been in solidarity with my struggles and still giving me the benefits of the doubt, I’m most grateful. I’ll never let you down on this new path.

Thank you!”

Nuhu Ribadu 

The Adamawa election will be held 11 October. The former governor, Murtala Nyako was impeached in July by the PDP dominated House of Assembly. Nyako belonged to the APC, Ribadu’s former party.