He was the son of Ardo Hamza, District Head of Balala, and Adda Wuro, the daughter of Alkali Hamman Joda from Yola.

[5] In 1946, he proceeded abroad on a scholarship from the British Council to study local government.

Like a few of his colleagues who partook in the scholarship, after his return, he became interested in the nation's political process, he was appointed a member of the Northern House of Assembly in 1947 and was re-elected in 1951.

In 1948, he served in the Hugh Foot committee of the Nigerianisation of senior posts in the civil service.

In Lagos he acted as deputy Prime Minister in all but name - with considerably more authority than Abubakar due to his stronger following in the Northern Region.

[9] While serving as Minister of Defence, Ribadu presided over a rapid expansion of the Nigerian Army, Navy as well as the creation of the Nigeria Air Force.

Many scholars and historians believe till today that if Ribadu had been alive, the January 1966 military coup could not have taken place.