Date Published: 02/28/10

Will The Real James Onanefe Ibori Please Standup? By Felix Ayanruoh 

The abuse of political power for private gain deprives the most needy of vital public services, creating a level of despair that breeds conflict and violence – Transparency International. 

The "eight momentous years" of James Ibori in government house Asaba were first and foremost those of massive corruption, abuse of power, maladministration, thuggery, sycophancy, and human rights violation which continues to date, for whom Deltans in particular and Nigerians in general tragically continue paying the price 

To James Ibori, he is apparently larger than life, which is pretty much just the way he wants it. He described himself as a successful governor and architect of resource control. The Odidigborigbo of Africa dealt the citizens of Delta state a bad hand during his reign as governor. This self described benefactor of the people that spread the money around ran the state amok. He stole the state’s money and ran its business as a family business. 

To some Deltans the positive aspects of Ibori's legacy can be summed up in five words: “He spread the money around.” But is that really true? In the first place the state resources do not belong to the Ibori/Uduaghan clan and therefore cannot spread it around. He deliberately created and/or condoned suffering in the midst of so much, thereby turning Deltans to beggars and worshippers of ill-gotten wealth. To say that he spreads the state wealth around is either delusional, stupid or some combination of both. 

Let's look at Ibori's claims for himself without either flyspecking them for flaws or setting the bar too high. No one should expect a politician to be brutally candid in talking about himself. That's asking too much. Exaggeration is acceptable. Dishonesty isn't.

His alleged crimes were as outrageous as his inflated sense of self, the sort of behavior we expect of nollywood villains, not governors.  

This is a man whose known criminal enterprise started with the conviction of theft and handling stolen credit cards in the United Kingdom. Just when you think it can't get any worse, we get this: Awaal Yusuf, a former Area Court judge testified before an election tribunal that, as judge of the Bwari Upper Area Court on September 28, 1995,  convicted a man named James Onanefe Ibori of negligent conduct and criminal breach of trust. The Odidigborigbo of Africa defense in the case was that the James Onanefe Ibori convicted is not the same person as James Onanefe Ibori (then governor of Delta State). I wonder where the convicted James Onanefe Ibori is at the moment. 

James Ibori not only pimped for the late corrupt military head of state General Sani Abacha but is also alleged to be a top member of his money laundering team. In many respect, however, the apprenticed James Ibori has far exceeded the chicanery and evil mindedness of his mentor (The late General Sani Abacha). He has become tech-savvy puppet master for President Yar’Adua. Take for example, his role in the present presidential crises affecting the country today. 

Will James Onanefe Ibori be real and be frank with himself, by paying attention to his pilfering tendencies and legal problems instead of fighting against the interest of the Nigerian people. With the last days of  Yar’ Adua’s presidency fast approaching, Ibori’s last days in Nigerian politics lie ahead of him. 

Felix Ayanruoh

Writes from New York