Posted by By Olatunji Ololade & Dare Odufowokan on
A war of words ensued at the weekend between Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu following claims by the former that the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had secretly apologized to him over a snide remark recently.
* No, you're a big liar -Ribadu
A war of words ensued at the weekend between Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu following claims by the former that the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had secretly apologized to him over a snide remark recently.
Speaking off cuff at a seminar/colloquium organized by the University of Ibadan chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on January 31, the anti-graft commission boss came hard on Adedibu and Oyo deputy governor, Chief Bayo Alao-Akala, describing them as 'unfit" to be leaders.
Amid deafening ovation from the audience, Ribadu, as widely reported by newspapers on February 1, said: 'The only things people are talking about in the world and Nigeria about Ibadan today are the Adedibus and the Alao-Akalas.
'So, I ask why? Why should such people be leading us in this country? Why can't we be angry? It's so tragic. Why should we allow people like Alao-Akala to lead us?…May we not end up having an Adedibu as the pro-Chancellor of this university with the way we are going."
But speaking exclusively to Sunday Sun in Ibadan during the week, the acclaimed strongman of Ibadan politics raised the ante with a boast that Ribadu had secretly reached him, pleading he was misquoted.
His words: 'It's the Punch newspaper in particular and others like it that set out to misinform the public. They wanted to put that fine young man (Ribadu) in trouble with me. He has denied it. He said he never said so. He sent the tape to me to hear for myself. The tape is here now. He even begged me not to mind those people. Since he said he never said so, and he sent us the tape, which is here now, I don't know how they got that information."
Contacted yesterday, Ribadu denied begging Adedibu and described the strong-man of Ibadan politics as 'a big, fat, old liar."
Said Ribadu: 'May Allah punish you (Adedibu) for lying against me. I thank God I don't have any business with people like you."
Describing Adedibu's claim as the antics of a drowning man, the EFCC boss reminded that 'in the past when I told the truth against people like General Ibrahim Babangida, some blackmailers had equally said I went back to beg him. It is all lies. Adedibu is an old liar."