[Bunch17]

Originally Posted by Palamedes

Mallam Ribadu has been naive and careless by ignoring his self-preservation instincts:- By definition, self-preservation inalienably include preservation of one's job from demise or deprecation by one's enemy.

Excuse my vanity while I consider myself (albeit momentarily) the honorable adviser to the great Nigerian Mallam Ribadu on how to handle enemies of the people and by extension his enemies. Here is what I would say to him in strict confidence (after first checking that there are no bugs in the visinity):

“Malam Nuhu Ribadu, sir, cut the crap; lets not be too superior about the gentlemen civil servant thing that you are; your enemies are becoming very vocal and are all over you lately; they are risking stains on their pristine agbada suit to playing it dirty.”

“It is said that Edgar Hoover had many skeletons in his cupboard—I am not saying that you sir have skeletons--, and yet to his enemies, he was untouchable. Why? Information is power, sir--as they say, and he had lots of files on each and everyone of his enemies (including the Kennedys) to destroy careers.”

“Edgar Hoover knew how to mange intelligence, and many people in your position have borrowed his style to ensure their longevity, USE IT!. And if he (his is the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice) continues to become too noisy, I suggest that you feed the the press some of his private monkey businesses or even pay him a visit and show him some files or DVDs. With this advice, even the president cannot touch you.”

The reader can call it whatever he or she wishes; they are yours word(s), not mine; I call it man's instinct for self-preservation and no one would hold it against Malam Nuhu Ribadu. This is a noble philosophy, and I commend it to the Malam.

Have you considered that the reason why he has not used your method is simply because he does not have that intelligence. It is that distict lack of intelligence that makes him frustrated in the face of court orders. It is that lack of intelligence that made him a mockery of law enforcement agencies in the west.