By Zik Gbemre

We believe many well-meaning Deltans/Nigerians were greatly appalled, saddened and disturbed with the recent congratulatory message and Birthday Greetings by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to celebrate/mark Chief James Ibori’s 58th Birthday anniversary on August 4, 2016, which was glaringly published on Page 6 of The Urhobo Voice of August 15, 2016. We simply lack the words to describe this, or understand the logical reasoning that must have made Governor Okowa as a seating Governor of Delta State, to issue the said published congratulatory message/Birthday Greetings to a known convict like Chief James Ibori, who was convicted by a UK Crown Court for mindboggling corruption, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds meant for Delta State Development and its people.

Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

To now have Governor Okowa, coming out in the open to publicly issue statements singing praises of the same convict, is rather too bad and quite unfortunate. It shows how unfocused and visionless the Okowa administration is. By coming out in public to issue such statements to Ibori on his 58th Birthday, what message is Governor Okowa sending to others in and outside government circles in Nigeria and outside the country? What example is he trying to portray to our younger politicians about Nigerian political leaders they should look up to and emulate? By praising Ibori as a “political enigma at 58, and his distinguished leader…” What is Okowa encouraging present politicians and our younger generations to do? Is he encouraging them to be like Ibori, who grossly amassed and sto le public funds meant for the collective good of all Deltans? We understand that Ibori might be Okowa’s friend and political ‘godfather’, but that does not mean he should throw caution into the wind when it comes to maintaining the integrity of the Office he occupies as a Governor. Okowa’s statements concerning Ibori is very inappropriate at the moment, especially as a seating Governor. Such congratulatory message/Birthday Greetings from Governor Okowa should have been done ‘privately’ to Ibori without making it so public.

When it comes to ‘public office morality and integrity’, there are certain things that should not be tolerated. This is one of them. If people like Chief Ighoyota Amori are seen to make such public statements on Ibori’s Birthday, then is it a seating Governor that should do so? How can Governor Okowa, who is a learned Medical Doctor, well-traveled, a supposed seasoned politician as a former Commissioner, Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Senator and now seating Governor of Delta State; come out publicly to celebrate and sing praises of a man like Ibori who has committed heinous graft crimes against the State? The Governor Okowa’s statement in this regard is enough to scare prospective investors from investin g in Delta State – the same investors he is crying out for to come into the State.

If it were in developed societies like the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK), Okowa’s remarks about a convict like the one he made, is enough to get him forced out of Office. We have advised Governor Okowa severally to stop making such careless public statements concerning Ibori and his family, and as much as he can he should disassociate himself from the Iboris while in Office, but it appears he does not care about what people or the International Community think about his actions in this regard. This is rather unfortunate.

Zik Gbemre, JP.

National Coordinator

Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)