Gloom Hangs Over Ibori’s Ancestral Home As Former Gov was sent jail

[SR]

As jubilation greeted  the Tuesday sentencing of former Governor, Chief James Ibori, to 13 years in jail for corruption and money laundering, gloom covered his ancestral home, Oghara, a section of Delta state.

When this reporter visited the community, people were seen seated in groups wearing forlorn faces discussing their illustrious son predicament in hushed tones. Streets were deserted and efforts to speak with locals were rebuffed.

One of the locals had this to say to a reporter: "We don't want to see any Journalist in this town interviewing anybody concerning our leader because we are not happy as you can see. For your own good and if you love yourself very well better leave this town now or we seize your handset, recorder and everything you came here with."

Back in 2010, indigenes of Oghara town chased out security personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who had come to carry out the arrest of the ex-governor following an order issued by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Shortly after the arrest was foiled by the indigenes, it was learnt that Ibori had been smuggled out of the country to Dubai. From there, he was extradited to the United Kingdom to farce the corruption charges.

After that drama that took place in March, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan was supposed to visit the state and his point of call was Oghara, to commission the Nigerian Naval Logistics Command Headquarters started by the embattled former governor and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital.

But this did not go down well with the people of Oghara, whose illustrious son -as they describe Ibori -now faced arrest. A few days prior to the presidential visit, Oghara youths in solidarity with Ibori turned out enmass to protest against the visit of Mr. Jonathan.

What apparently followed was an invitation to Asaba, the state capital, where a whopping sum of N30 Million was allegedly offered the Oghara youths to drop their planned protest of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in Oghara town.

Confirming the facts of that time, the then Secretary to state government (SSG) and Chairman Planning Committee of the Presidential Visit, Dr. Ifeanyi Author Okowa, now Senator in the national Assembly, told journalists at a press conference that government had learned  of the planned protest but the situation was already under control.

** The SSG, in that press conference revealed to the media that the Oghara monarch HRH Oreki 11 has sent a delegation to the state government to be deeply involved in the programme in order to host Mr. President in his palace and the state has already obliged his request.

As presstime approached, the youths were said to be still at each other's throat following the manner that the state cake was shared among them which did not go down well with some of the youths.

Meanwhile, reacting to Ibori's 13 year sentence, Delta state chairman of Democratic Peoples' Party (DPP), Chief Tony Ezeagwu, described it as a welcome development. He stressed that it was a vindication of the allegation of looting of Delta State treasury by Chief James Ibori.

Ezeagwu disclosed that the party and its governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, were called all sorts of names when they alerted the people about Ibori's profligacy when he was governor between 1999 and 2003. "But today we have been vindicated," he declared.

While calling for the immediate and speedy return of all the stolen money by Ibori, the DDP boss had harsh words for the Nigerian judiciary saying: "There is absolutely nothing to write home about the state of the Nigerian judiciary which had earlier cleared the former governor of all corrupt charges only to own up to the same charges in London in a dramatic U-turn.

What a shame and disgrace."

SaharaReporters