Ribadu’s Fall: A Bitter Lesson in Tinubu’s APC
Nuhu Ribadu just got a political slap that many Northern politicians have learned the hard way: in Tinubu’s APC, no one is untouchable. Not even a former EFCC boss turned National Security Adviser.
Make no mistake—this was not routine. The appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa into the security architecture was deliberate, a quiet yet unmistakable signal: Ribadu’s star is fading. Titles mean nothing when access to the president dwindles. Influence lives in whispers behind closed doors, not on letterheads.
For nearly two years, Ribadu was untouchable—or so it seemed. Direct access to Tinubu, influence, visibility… he had it all. But Nigerian politics is merciless. The moment your grip loosens, the fall is swift and humiliating.
Many are pointing fingers at Nasir El-Rufai. Yes, their feud may have added fuel to the fire. But this is bigger than personal rivalry. Ribadu’s real error was overconfidence. He forgot one truth about Tinubu’s APC: loyalty today does not guarantee relevance tomorrow.
His infamous “they are our brothers” remark on Northwest bandits only made him vulnerable. In politics, a single misstep can be the pretext for a power shake-up.
History has shown that the NSA position is a double-edged sword: powerful, yes—but dangerous. Fast rises, brief glories, sudden falls. Ribadu ignored the pattern. He misread southern-led federal politics, assuming loyalty would secure lasting influence. Northern politicians have been burned this way repeatedly—from Obasanjo to Jonathan and now Tinubu.
Ribadu’s fall is more than personal misfortune; it is a warning. In Tinubu’s APC, proximity to power can disappear overnight. Today’s favor can become tomorrow’s irrelevance. For Ribadu, the lesson is painful, public, and unavoidable.
In the unforgiving arena of Nigerian politics, comfort is the enemy of survival—and Ribadu just learned it the hard way.
Dr.Emman Shahu
