You really should blame my pastor and teacher, Sam Adeyemi, for what is now happening to me. He taught us that we could have a better nation and a desirable future; that the boundless potential of Nigeria could be turned to reality and we could be a part of the rebuilding of this great nation. Sunday in, Sunday out, I listened to these words, I bought books, tapes and CDs on nation building and national transformation and soon, I began to see in my mind’s eye, a new Nigeria; one where good governance, not ethnicity and religion, defines our rule of engagement. But each time I stepped out of the presence of such wonderful messages, the reality of the nation hit me hard. “Is there any hope for this nation?” People frequently ask. “Nigeria, only God can help us,” we often chorus but my teacher would often says, God will not do for man what man can do for himself. By common sense I agree with him. But how shall these things be? I wondered. Indeed the spirit of pessimism and hopelessness is always hanging in the air above. Then came the day I listened to Ayo Aderinwale, MFR, the Executive Director, Africa Leadership Forum. In a gathering, someone had expressed the feeling of pessimism that Nigeria could not change for the better and that the 1993 election experience had become a definition of our constant fate but Mr. Aderinwale refuted this. Change is constant, he noted. “Whether you like it or not this nation will change; it is a natural process. The question is whether you want to be a part of that change.”  Around me, fellow interns nodded. I saw hope in their eyes. But that change wasn’t just going to happen accidentally, it was going to be by conscious efforts of men and women who would take deliberate steps to stem the tide of underdevelopment and rot which has until now pervaded the nation.


Enter Camp Ribadu and Team Ribadu and I fall in line. “…building a groundswell of motivated volunteers all over the country and in the Diaspora, who are simply fed up with sitting by the sidelines, watching as this great country is pillaged to ruins by unscrupulous leaders, and want to make a change.” Hmm… that sure looked like the direction I was heading, so there is no question of why I joined. I arrived Abuja on Wednesday, September 16, 2010 to join the National Strategic team to prepare for the arrival of delegates. There was Tobi, our national coordinator; Lamidz, Desh, Granny E, B, Ibrahim, Tom, Fred, Psun, Chakor, Idris and a host of others. We were bound by a common goal: the rebirth our nation. Friday, and delegates began to arrive. I knew it wasn’t going to be a Tea Party but the reality was way beyond my expectation. Young men and women from all parts of the nation – over 400 in number - arrived in Abuja to attend Camp Ribadu and all these was with an understanding that they will willingly work as volunteers and give their time, expertise and resources when needed, so that we meet our goal.


Arrival over, registration done, stomachs filled, it was time for real business. In the little 400 sitting capacity hall, at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja we all sat brainstormed on the possibility of charting a new cause of our nation. One speaker after another talked about the task ahead. 2011 election was at the corner and we were serious about taking over power from the PDP which had been in office for 11 years without delivering commensurate benefits of democracy. I remember now the quality of the people around me; there was Ahmed Ogunlana from Ogun State; a medical student, young, vocal, vibrant with great foresight. Then also was … From Taraba who spoke less but acted… And Gold from Imo state; a medical student and Laz from Delta State (happy married life Laz); we all chatting, laughing, mingling, dancing, and debating. But never fighting, never shouting down at anyone or looking down on anyone. What an interesting time it was.


But we had out differences too. Many years of bad leadership had engraved in the hearts of people, a distrust for one another and any act of kindness and show of courtesy – from the point of registration - was interpreted as deception. But in the three days of constant interaction and healthy debate, we began to see that the things that united us as a people were more than the things that separated us. But then, isn’t that the beauty of democracy? A system of government that ensures that people’s opinions are heard, respected and debated upon until a conclusion is reached?


Our time together did not automatically erode the doubt about our immediate goal: 2011 elections. Logic told us that our goal was noble but the odds were against us. People still doubted whether we could create the needed change, considering the fact that political victory in Nigeria today is largely based on violence. And sometimes, I wonder too. Some people think we are just an idealistic set. Well, no better time to be idyllic but the age of youth. But this is beyond idealism. It is about the determination of a people who are committed to creating a change in the nation which is rightfully theirs. Our goal is beyond winning election, we want to change a culture that has a total disregard for a people’s vote. We want to create a culture where people look beyond violence in times of election. The possibility was again engraved when on Sunday afternoon, the principal of our gathering, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, arrived. We had already dispersed for lunch and he came in. Positive pandemonium - if there was anything like that – broke loose, The guys picked him up and soon, he was airborne. Stand up, stand up, for the champion, for the champion, stand up. For the first time in many years, I saw the possibility of a nation where there could be simplicity amongst the ruling class.


My friends wonder why I believe this man, Nuhu Ribadu, can take the Nigeria to the next level… why I do have faith in him. Well, faith is a risk. But this is no blind risk but a calculated one. Mallam Ribadu’s antecedent speaks for him. Is he perfect? No. Am I looking for a perfect candidate? No what I am looking for is a candidate who can be guided by the tenets and democracy. Also, it is obvious truth that our greatest problem in the nation today is corruption. Well, here is a man who fought corruption and gained victory like no one else ever did.  At Camp Ribadu, we had hotel guests walk up to us to seek how they could support our cause and in my volunteer experience thus far, it has become the norm. Truly a good name is better than riches!


2011 beckons and I am enjoying every part of my volunteer experience. People still can’t believe that I am doing this for no monetary gains. Well, I am not alone. Over 10,000 Nigerians – and counting – are on this mission because we know that if the country is better, we also will be better of for it. Our future and the future of our children will be assured.


So, let us keep the goal before us: Landslide victory at the polls, come 2011. And if Team Ribadu looks like the train you have been waiting to join, come join the voyage. Let’s rewrite history together.


BY OMENA ABENABE