Ribadu schemes to move back to APC, visits Akande

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday held a private meeting with a former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande. 

Ribadu who was a governorship candidate of the PDP in Adamawa State in the April 11, 2015 election visited Akande at his residence in Ila-Orangun on Sunday evening and discussed with him for a few hours. 

He had earlier contested the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria.

The visit had sparked rumour of the possibility of the defection of the former anti-graft boss to the ruling APC.

A highly-placed source in the APC in Osun State told our correspondent on Sunday that Ribadu visited Akande in company with the National Secretary of the APC, Mai Bala Buni, reports the Punch newspaper.

The source, who preferred not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak for the party, said, “He was there on Sunday. I was told he (Ribadu) and the national secretary of the APC visited Chief Akande together.

“It is difficult to say if he is defecting to our party because I was not there but we won’t ask him not to come if he wants to come.”

After the meeting, Ribadu said he was at Ila-Orangun to reconnect with Akande, who he described as a father and statesman.

“Baba Akande is a very important person to all of us. He is a father in the true sense of the word. From the day I decided to venture into politics, I have benefited from his guidance and wisdom.

“I have not seen Baba in a long time, so I feel this is a good time to come and greet him at home. Of course, I have never been far away from Baba’s fountain of wisdom. Party differences cannot be a reason to abandon old ties,” Ribadu said.

He eulogised Akande, a former Osun State governor, and the people of the community while recalling the overwhelming support and affection he was shown by the people of Osun State during his 2011 presidential bid.

Akande said Ribadu’s visit was not political.

“As an extended member of this community, I said he should come and greet you,” he said.

The Director of Publicity and Strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, when contacted, said he heard that Ribadu visited Akande.

Odeyemi, however, berated the former anti-corruption agency boss for allegedly “going back and forth.”

He said, “I was told he visited Ila-Orangun but is Ila his local government, where he is supposed to announce his defection?

“Ribadu has never proved to be a loyal party man. He joined the PDP from the ACN and he is going back now. He is not somebody to be depended upon when it comes to politics.”

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