Former Delta State governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s kinsmen and key political stakeholders in Delta State have called on the federal government to facilitate his release and subsequent return to Nigeria, describing him as an epitome of infrastructural and human capital development.

Popular Niger Delta activist and Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami who was among stakeholders that spoke to newsmen at Oghara, the country home of Chief James Onanefe Ibori shortly after a novelty football match organized to celebrate the ex-governor’s 55^th birthday.

They described Ibori’s travail as political and averred that the former governor did a lot in the development of youths, road construction and other infrastructures to better the lot of Deltans.

Chief Emami who is the Chairman of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC declared that “despite being in prison, if Ibori happens to contest election now he will win because he is a man of the people”.

An Oghara indigene, Simon Otobo opined that those Urhobos who prayed for Ibori’s arrest are regretting it because of the political gulf his absence is causing the Urhobo nation and pleaded for leniency on the part of both Nigeria and British government.

An elderly woman and commercial motorcycle rider, Omoko Rose and Edafewogho Ekawhen respectively commended the former governor for developing Oghara in Ethiope West local government and appealed to the federal government to work towards Ibori’s release, noting that it will help stabilize the polity.

Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Ben Igbakpa, an aide to Governor Uduaghan, Faith Majimite, a member in the board of DESOPADEC, Mr. Henry Ofa and other top political office holders in Delta State who also bare their minds described the huge turn – out of people at the novelty football match played at the Oghara township stadium between Ibori United of Oghara and Ibori United of Warri as a testament of the ex governor’s popularity and developmental strides while he was in the saddle as Delta State Chief executive.

Our Correspondent who covered the novelty football match which ended one goal apiece reports that the ceremony attracted thousands of youths in Delta State and was spiced up with entertainment by budding artistes.

While former Warri North Chairman and current member of DESOPADEC board, Hon. Michael Diden captained the Ibori United football club of Warri, Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Ben Igbakpa captained the Oghara side which also featured Chief Ayirimi Emami