By Zik Gbemre

It is really sad that presently, Chief James Ibori is highly celebrated at Oghara his hometown in Delta State, particularly when he was welcomed from his UK prison release. Though, this is not the first time we have witnessed such celebration of those who stole the public ‘collective wealth’ meant for the development of the people, however it is appalling that is now made a norm and not many are frowning at it. Chief Bode George, former Chairman of NPA, was celebrated by well-wishers on his way from prison in Lagos some years ago.

We think Ibori should repent, turn to God and adopt a humble lifestyle that will not have anything to do with dishonest living. The likes of Peter Odili, Lucky Igbenedion, and Emmanuel Uduaghan have gone out of public scene but the ‘atrocities’ they have committed against their States and their people will not be forgotten. They will always be remembered for bad because of the bad legacy they left behind. Those professional ‘praise singers’ and ‘sycophants’ should allow Ibori to fully reintegrate into the society, having been jailed and kept out of public scene for quite some time now. Ibori well-wishers should celebrate his release quietly. Ibori should be advised that those hailing and celebrating him at this critical time are his real enemies who are only out to get something out of him. So, I think Ibori should learn from his past mistakes and adopt a new lifestyle built on integrity, honesty, and hard work.

On his appeal against his conviction, it is meaningless since he pleaded guilty of the offence he was arrested and jailed for in the UK. Ibori should remain humble, keep a very low profile,  if possible, avoid public exposure for some time and be grateful to God for having the chance to repent from his old ways of life. The truth is that Ibori’s case is similar to most Nigerian political leaders who have looted the public wealth of the people. It is not only Ibori that has stolen public wealth in Nigeria. There are countless many like him in various public circles who are yet to be dealt with the full wrath of the law.

Ibori pleaded guilty that he committed the crime so why celebrating him for looting our Delta State money. How would our neighbouring African countries, and the Comity of nations in Europe and US nationals look at us as a people? Why should other world leaders not mock Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt” nation? What signal are we sending to others across the globe when we exhibit such display of shame and even be proud of it? What good are we doing to ourselves with such mindless celebration? Do we really want to develop as a people when we do this? Do we want our children to graduate from universities and roam the streets jobless? What lessons are we teaching our future generations when we act like this? Do we really want to put food on the table for our families? Do we really desire good medical care and stable electricity when celebrate those who stole our collective wealth? If Nigerians actually want our Country to develop like the foreign western countries, then we must stop to praise what is bad and condemn our political leaders who steal public wealth. The unrestrained looting of public wealth in this country by political leaders is wicked, heartless, cruel and criminal in all ramifications. It is the reason why we are still having the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region and the entire nation.

If we, as Niger Deltans keep ‘celebrating’ ‘singing praises’ of the likes of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, who grossly looted public wealth (for their selfish use), meant for the development of their States and the entire region, then we have no business ‘complaining about the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region. If we continue to celebrate and praise Ibori for haven stolen our ‘collective wealth’ in Delta State, despite the fact that he had pleaded guilty for committing such a crime against his people and was jailed for it, including his sister, wife and mistress; then we seriously do not have the right to complain that Delta State has remained underdeveloped in spite of the riches surrounding it. It is as simple as that!

When we turn an occasion (with Ibori’s recent return to the country and to his hometown – Oghara, Delta State), that calls for penitence, repentance and soberness into a carnival of celebration, and soon, a possible mock-Thanksgiving Service, all to warmly welcome back an ex-convict into the system to continue his corrupt tendencies from where he stopped; then we have ‘no moral justification’ to make any noise about the ‘continuous underdevelopment status’ of our State or so-called ‘marginalization’ of the entire Niger Delta region.

Our problem in Delta State and the entire Niger Delta region is not really President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, neither does it have anything to do with us not having the resourceful wealth/riches to transform the region to be the Dubai of Africa, but our major problem is ‘us’ – as Niger Deltans and a people who, rather than take their destinies in their hands, have continued to inflict injuries on ourselves. All around Delta State and the entire Niger Delta region are “faces and pictures of self-inflicted injuries” we as a people have brought on ourselves. A careful look at every oil and gas producing community for instance in Delta State, are evident ‘odyssey of wastes’ of uncompleted and completely abandoned projects/programmes meant to develop the region and its people. Yet, we still daily celebrate and sing praises of those in Government circles who, rather than be accountable as custodians of State funds, have grossly misappropriated/mismanaged and stolen our wealth for their insatiable greed as well as that of their families/cronies and supporters.

We have used our own hands to ‘encourage’ and legalize the ‘stealing public wealth’ with such celebration and praise singing of the likes of James Ibori, when he recently landed in the country from his UK prison sentence. This was a man who colluded with his wife, sister and mistress to brazenly steal Delta State wealth for their selfish interests but to the detriment of his people and Deltans. This was the same man who reportedly bribed former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu with 15 million dollars to cover up his corruption case that was brought against him. It is this same person that the people are celebrating. I seriously pity this generation of ours!

However, let it be known that the problem of underdevelopment in the region is caused by the locals, the Elites, the Politicians, the Traditional Rulers, the youths, the Elders and including the women. If Deltans and people of the Niger Delta region actually want our communities to develop like the foreign western countries, then we must stop to praise and celebrate what is bad and particularly condemn our political leaders who steal our public ‘collective wealth’ as custodians of States’ resources. The unrestrained looting of public wealth in this part of the country by our political leaders is wicked, heartless, cruel and criminal in all ramifications. It is the reason why we are still having the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region and the entire nation.

Until we start holding our political leaders accountable and ‘constantly boo and shame them’ when they mess up, and not sing their praise or celebrate them for doing nothing, we will continue to remain undeveloped in all ramifications.

Zik Gbemre, JP.

National Coordinator

Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)