After seven years of serving jail
term in London prison, Ibori has
spoken on his prison experience
- He says what pained him most was
not actually his prison service but
his people whom he left behind
- He, however, said he was not
guilty of the offences leveled
against him but he accepted it as a
way to escape the plot of his
enemies
Former governor of Delta state, Chief
James Ibori on Sunday, February 12,
2017 said he never once doubted his
prospect of returning to Nigeria and
reuniting with his friends, political
associates and kinsmen in Oghara,
Ethiope west local government area
of the state.
Ibori also dismissed insinuations that
he was guilty of the offences to which
he admitted in 2012, disclosing that
at the point of his trial, his guilty plea
was the only leeway with which he
could escape the malevolent plot of
his enemies under the guise of anti-
corruption crusade.
James Onanefe Ibori
The former governor spoke in
Oghara during a thanksgiving service
organized by the leadership of
Oghara community and held at the
First Baptist Church, Ogharefe.
The event was widely attended by
thousands of supporters, including
Ibori's elder cousin and successor,
Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Ibori's
deputy, Chief Benjamin Elue, former
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief
Steve Oru, Managing Director of
Delta State Oil Producing Areas
Development Commission
(DESOPADEC), Chief Williams
Makinde, traditional rulers, serving
and former commissioners, political
stalwarts, captains of industries and
artisans across the state.
READ ALSO: See faces at James
Ibori's thanksgiving service in
Oghara Delta state
Ibori who spoke in English and
Urhobo languages revealed that the
reality of his seven years absence
from the country was not as painful
as the suffering and pains which his
people were subjected to within the
period of his absence.
His words: "My entire life is a
testimony; I have said it over and
again that my life was fashioned by
God, directed by God, seen,
acknowledged and blessed by God. I
have always believed that since I was
born, I’m living in accordance with
destiny.
"When the whole commotion started,
what was most painful to me was the
pains and sufferings that my people
were going through. It had nothing to
do with me as a person because for
some reasons, I drew my strength
from God and, somehow, I knew God
will stand by me.
"I knew that one day, this day of
celebration will come. I am indeed
very pleased that I can now stand
before you and look at your faces,
especially the faces of those I have
missed and those who suffered the
pains of my absence.
"When I reflect on the past, it gives me
joy that all your prayers have been
answered by God; all your support and
solidarity with me all through this
period are untellable.
Ibori while in London prison
"The only testimony I have is the fact
that I am alive, well and in your midst.
I never had any doubt whatsoever in
mind that I will get back home. ”
On his guilty plea about seven years
ago, Ibori maintained that his
analysis of the situation showed that
his life was at stake and the enemies
were bent on taking him from his
people, hence he accepted his alleged
offences as a "pragmatic decision" to
thwart the plans of his foes.
He narrated how he had pre-
informed Uduaghan of his intention
of going for the guilty plea which, he
said, was "the shortest route back to
his people ", insisting that he was not
guilty as alleged.
Ibori, who was in a very high spirit,
led the congregation in songs of
victory just as special prayers were
offered for him and his family
members, Oghara community,
Ethiope west, Delta state and Nigeria.
Earlier in a homily titled: "Knowing
the Gift of God", the South-South
Chairman of the Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop
Goddowell Awomakpa, said Ibori
served as a bridge that united the
church with the government of the
state, urging politicians to be more
concerned with the welfare of the
masses than their personal
gratification.
Awomakpa also enjoined political
leaders to shun hatred for one
another, charging them to embrace
humility and respect for the
electorate during and after their
tenure in offices.
Meanwhile, prominent kinsmen of
Ibori have continued to eulogize the
former governor, describing him as
people oriented and generally
acceptable to Nigerians.
Ibori celebrating his release in London
with speaker of Delta state house of
assembly, Monday Igbuya
READ ALSO: Die hard PDP critic
dumps APC for PDP in Delta
Former Commissioner for power and
energy and Chairman of the Ibori's
thanksgiving central planning
committee, Chief Emmanuel
Ighomena, expressed utmost
gratitude to God for keeping Ibori
alive despite the desire of
persecutors to get him dead or alive.
In an interaction with newsmen,
Ighomena attributed the jubilations
that greeted Ibori's return to his
continuous struggle for the
emancipation of the Niger Delta
region, noting that Ibori never fought
a personal cause but advanced the
true yearnings of Nigerians.
On his part, a former Commissioner
representing Ethiope west, Sapele
and Okpe local government areas on
the board of DESOPADEC, Chief
Henry Ofa, urged everyone "to
accord Chief Ibori the greatest respect
that he deserves and tell others to do
same", adding: "We must heed his
fatherly advice and show him all the
needed love.”
"As we all rise in unity to reaffirm our
undying loyalty to this great leader, we
must understand that each of us has a
stake in the issue at hand; we have a
role to play and we have an all
important task to perform.
Ibori during the celebration service in
church on Sunday
"Now, more than ever, has the rolling
ball been placed on our courts; it is
either we score the goal and continue
in our unabating joy or stand the risk
of missing the reward forever. A fact
worth knowing is that history beckons
on you .”
On her part, a lecturer at the Delta
State University, Abraka, Dr. (Mrs)
Elizabeth Ogini observed that the
time for a genuine reconciliation
between Ibori and all aggrieved
interests has come, noting that there
is no gain in bickering.
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