An NGO; Every Child Counts Initiative for Education, on Friday donated text books worth millions of naira to schools in Oyede Community in Isoko-North Local Government Area of Delta.
In her speech at the occasion, the founder of the NGO, Mrs Veronica Ogbuagu, expressed hope that the books would boost reading culture among school children.
Ogbuagu, Commissioner for Education in the administration of former Gov. James Ibori, said the books were donated to her at no cost by an organisation “Books for Africa,” based in the USA.
She expressed concern that over 80 per cent of Nigerian children in public primary and secondary schools could not read and comprehend due to poor reading foundation.
“As an NGO, we are committed to the course of children, youths and women.
“We teach young people life skills; we promote good health and quality education.
“We believe that every child must be educated to enable him realise his potential and contribute meaningfully to the development of the society,” Ogbuagu said.
In his remarks, Mr Solomon Oyenenue, Chief Inspector of Education, Isoko-North LGA, said the books would help to redirect the children from social vices and inculcate in them good moral values.
The Pincipal of Oyede Comprehensive High School, Mrs Roseline Ogbo, who spoke on behalf of principals of the benefitting schools, thanked the donor and promised that they would make judicious use of the books.
She called on other NGOs and well meaning Nigerians to emulate the donor and assist school children to acquire knowledge.
The president of Oyede Development Union Mr Peter Akarogbe, who also commended the donor, said the gesture would help to address the high level of illiteracy in the community.
“Reading culture of Nigerian children has fallen to 30 per cent according to the United Nations rating.
“This gesture will help inculcate in the children the habit of reading,” Akarogbe said.”
Tag: James Ibori
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NGO donates books to schools in Delta community
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Delta APC condemns celebration of Ibori’s return
The Delta state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has
condemned the celebration of the return of former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, from the United Kingdom after serving a jail term.The party, in a statement made available to the Nation in Warri on Sunday
by its acting Publicity Secretary, Leonard Obibi, also dissociated itself
from the party-like reception accorded the former governor, saying it was
not affiliated with in any way.The APC said it was repulsed by the huge merriment that had
been displayed by Ibori’s followers, noting that it had rather
compounded the feeling of hurt imposed on the people of the state by the
over 17 years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rule in the state.“The return of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, a former PDP Governor of Delta
State, after his recent release from serving a prison sentence on
conviction for money laundering and corruption charges, and upon his
deportation from the United Kingdom (UK), has seen his family and motley of
his PDP political associates, friends and supporters (many of them
self-serving) celebrating his return to his home town in Delta State.“In the course of these events, it was observed that a few of our party
members who are relatives, acquaintances or former associates of Chief
Ibori also took the chance to join in paying him visits which were widely
publicized. Inadvertently, the media tended to play up this perspective,
and in the process contrived a false impression that our party, APC Delta,
may have joined in celebrating the return of Chief Ibori.“APC Delta therefore wishes to state emphatically and put it on record that
unlike the PDP which invented, fertilized and has been perpetuating
corruptive tendencies in Delta State, and which for whatever reasons chose
to identify with a return of one of their own, APC Delta is not affiliated
in any way with these celebrations. Chief Ibori has remained the principal
leader and fulcrum of the PDP political organ in Delta State that
represents everything that the opposition has been combating since the
inception of the current democratic dispensation.“We also wish to reaffirm that APC Delta is repulsed by the excessive
spectacle of merriment that was put on display by the PDP and its allies
because it does not communicate the concerned feelings or reactions of the
larger Delta society. It is a flaw of opinion and an irony of the reality
on ground for anybody to link or tag Deltans in general, many of whom have
continued to suffer under the yoke of the PDP to this celebration. Also,
APC Delta seizes this opportunity to caution its members and notify the
larger public not to drag into or associate its name with the imprudent
actions of few individuals.“APC Delta metamorphosed from a myriad of progressive parties that have
stood in opposition to the PDP since 1999, and have since its formation
fought tooth and nail against the corrupted rule of the PDP in Delta State;
and our party remains focused and committed to rescuing Delta State from
the depravities of self-service and corruptive tendencies that drives the
PDP political machinery”, the statement said. -
Thanksgiving service for Ibori in Oghara
Oghara, the home town of former Delta state governor, Chief James Ibori,was again host to the creme of Delta state political, traditional and clerical fields on Sunday as the Oghara community held a special
thanksgiving service for the former governor.The church service, which was held at the First Baptist Church, Oghara, was organised by the community to thankGod for the release of Iborifrom a United Kingdom prison, where he had served almost five years after conviction for money laundry charges.
The service had many political associates and followers of
the former governor present. Among those at the event were the immediate
past governor of the state, who is also a cousin of Ibori, Dr Emmanuel
Uduaghan, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Festus Ovie-Agas,
Senators Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Patric Osakwe and Ighoyota Amori.Others were members of the Delta state executive and legislative arms of
government, including the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon
Monday Igbuya and daughter of Chief Ibori, who is a member of the
legislature; Erhiateake Ibori. Traditional rulers present included the Ovie
of Oghara Kingdom, Noble Eshemitan and the Pere of Akegbene-Mein Kingdom,
Pere Kalanama VII.Some artistes who graced the church service were Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki
and Ras Father. -
Do they know?
If something is adjustable, sooner or later it will need adjusting–Max Frisch
Along with six friends, I watched television footage of the crowds that cheered Chief James Ibori as he drove on the streets on his return home last week after his prison service in the United Kingdom. There was pronounced silence as we watched young and old struggle to catch a glimpse of the man. Like us, it was obvious that many in the crowds that followed his sport utility vehicle (SUV) at close quarters did not believe it was indeed Ibori until he, at a point, emerged from the top of his (SUV) to show an apparently well-fed and healthy-looking former governor. There was a long silence after the spectacle had we just watched, broken by a question we all thought was rhetorical: “Do these people know what Chief Ibori was, and what he did?” What followed was an animated and passionate argument that laid bare many of the skeletons in our nation’s cupboard. Our fundamental values as people are apparently as varied and questionable as we choose to make them. The lady who asked the question was not going to be ignored. She asked again if this is the typically Nigerian rent-a-crowd, or a spontaneous and genuine outpouring of joy among people whose hero had retuned after being jailed in a foreign country for stealing, in all probability, their commonwealth.
In a few exchanges, arguments that corruption is a Nigerian elite affair, a matter of personal opinion, a phenomenon determined by a cultural perspective or an effective value redistribution mechanism which anchors political power competed for hearing and dominance. There was no arguing away the reality before all Nigerians: either Chief Ibori is an extraordinarily likable politician who could do no wrong by his people, or the concept of private plunder of public resources is unknown where he came from. It was relatively easy to tick-off familiar arguments and refrain from many parts of the Niger Delta region, such as those that make heroes of locals who ‘liberate’, appropriate’ or ‘personalise’ the communities’ assets in oil and gas, as opposed to ‘strangers’ from the rest of Nigeria and the world who ‘steal’ it under official cover. People form the Niger Delta who will feel insulted by this criminal conclusion were not at the airport and road sides holding up placards saying ‘no to corrupt politicians’. By default, voices that agonised over the bleeding of communities by strongmen in the Niger Delta had submitted to a narrative that the use of public office or violence to divert massive resources was tolerable if it was done by locals. If half of the energy devoted to making the case for larger control of revenues by local communities had been directed at fighting corruption that stole huge resources from the same communities by politicians, the Delta region will not so viciously offend all standards of just and equitable development.
Chief Ibori’s return will open up many uncomfortable points in debates regarding the place of official corruption in our lives. There will be those that will insist that the fight against corruption is an elite affair, between those who have not amassed wealth illegally either because they could not, or were deeply predisposed against it, on the one hand, and those who see the acquisition of illegal wealth as a normal and essential element of acquiring power and serving the people. They will point at the verifiable fact that no Nigerian politician has ever acquired power without spending huge resources, most of which will not stand up to close legal scrutiny. That is the investment in an enterprise with the surest guarantee for returns. The distance between stolen wealth and productive activities of the vast majority of citizens make it difficult to raise requisite levels of passion and anger against the pillage of common resources. What is endemic is the pervasive and residual resentment of the rich, fuelled by suspicion that all wealth is stolen. The popular clamour to humiliate the rich by any means available is constantly hounded by deep-seated convictions that everyone will be corrupt if they get the opportunities.
Do Nigerians know the nature of the damage which systemic corruption does to their lives and the nation, or do they think the fight against corruption is largely a ploy by some elite to settle scores? Not to answer the first question in the affirmative will be to insult everything we value: our religious faiths and other key social values, our politicians who daily remind us that our strengths and assets have been bled dry by corruption, and our indignation at the situation we face daily when we have to submit to corruption. It is the second question which our recent experiences and current circumstances has difficult answers. This administration came to power to fight corruption, and we have a long list of suspects on trial or under investigation to prove it. If therefore, a committed supporter of the current campaign against corruption asks if the cheering crowd that welcomed Ibori knew what he was and what they were involved in, he should be prepared to answer some difficult questions as well. Do our leaders know that corruption at lower levels, the type that touches every citizen still thrives without fear or cover. Do they know that commercial drivers routinely and openly hand over money to police and other army of enforcers and regulators on our roads in full view of citizen passengers who duly note that nothing has changed? Do they know that every transaction, every activity that is service is still substantially fueled by bribes and inducements?
There is a massive disconnect between the fight President Buhari’s government is waging against corruption and the life of the Nigerian who has long readjusted to living with bribery, inducement, cheating, bending of rules, impunity and a host of other practices that suggest that only those who steal billions are corrupt. The difficulties imposed by an economy in recession make cheerleading the fight against corruption more difficult. Poor citizens ask if government knows how difficult life has become; why the cost of palm oil, matches, sugar and garri rise literally by the day and no one does anything about it. School fees, diesel, medications, rent, transport and every other essentials are becoming unaffordable. The state is receding at a dangerous rate from many Nigerians, Many among whom now provide their own security, basic infrastructure and other essentials of life. When you do this on a permanent basis, it is difficult to have much sympathy for the case that everyone should live within their means. It does not help the administration’s cause when much mileage is made against suspicion that it is reluctant to look too critically at its own side in a nation where saints and sinners wear the same faces, but can be told apart with a strong will and a commitment to expose corruption.
Some weeks ago, Vice President Osinbajo appealed to Nigerians to dislike corruption in all its ramifications, or the battle against it is as good as lost. This an important attempt to hit corruption where it hurts most: in those circles where wealth and power bulldoze their ways into our adulating and weak hearts. You have to feel for a President whose singular hallmark has been the fight against corruption, and a Deputy who doubles as a priest, that they stand at a point where they could persuade Nigerians to stay overwhelmingly loyal to the fight against corruption, or one that could register an irretrievable loss. If the Buhari administration will not win the fight against corruption, it is going to be difficult to see who will. If it will win this war, this administration needs to re-strategize and re-focus on value change and an aggressive campaign to stop small scale corruption which citizens live with. If a citizen cannot be saved from paying bribes for just about everything of value, he is unlikely to see any wrong in Chief James Ibori’s life. The battle for 2019 will test the effectiveness of the anti-corruption campaign. If billions or trillion are going to have to be spent by politicians and their backers in business they will have to steal it now.
- I am about to take a break to serve the nation in another capacity. I will hope that there is still room for me in the paper and your attention when I resume. I thank you for reading me and giving me the courage to share my thought with you.
Good bye
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Oghara reception : ‘Ibori is our father, we can die because of him’
The ancient town of Oghara in Ethiope West local Governments Area of Delta was on Saturday agog as former governor James Ibori returned home after serving jail term in a UK prison.
Ibori, who was convicted by a British court on charges of money laundering, arrived at the Benin Airport on Saturday aboard a chartered plane, IZYAIR, with registration number India Zulu Yanky (5NIZY).
The flight, a Challenger 60, landed the airport at about 2.25pm
Ibori stepped into his country home Oghara at about 3:30 pm on Saturday after completing his 13-year jail term in UK.
His residence was besieged by well wishers and political associates in the state to felicitate with their leader.
Hunreds of the well wishers trekked a long distance and around the town carrying leaves while some painted their faces with chalk jubilating
Similarly, musical stands were set up in various locations in the town as musicians entertained the crowd.
Speaking outside Ibori’s home, Mr Ighoyota Amori, a former senator representing Delta Central, said the return of Ibori was a good omen to the people.
“We are happy that Ibori is back, people are jubilating, the crowd you see here and the enthusiasm that has been displayed today showed that we really missed him.
“This is the only way for us to appreciate that our leader who left us long ago is back.
“His coming is a beginning of so many good things to come, by his presence today, l am sure we are gaining back all we have lost.
“Ibori remains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but it is not time to discuss politics, all his followers around are members of PDP,” Amori said.
Also speaking to newsmen, Mr Lovett Idisi, member representing Ethiope East and Ethiope West Federal Constituency, thanked God for the safe return of Ibori.
“We prayed that all our PDP faithful should be steadfast now that we have a pure political direction.
“Their support has not been in vain, I believe now that our leader is out, we will have a sense of direction. We are a sheep with a shepherd right now.
“In my constituency, we now have somebody to consult without travelling overseas,” Idisi said.
One of Oghara’s youth leader, Mr Efe Moses said the return of Ibori would turn things around for the good of Oghara.
“We are grateful to God for the return of our chief (Ibori), sure things will turn around for better from now on in Oghara.
“Ibori is our father and we can die because of him,’’ Moses said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that security was beefed up to maintain law and order within and outside the Ibori residence. (NAN)
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Crowd await Ibori’s arrival in home town
Hundreds of Deltans showed up on Saturday at the Osubi Airstrip in Osubi, Okpe council area of Delta state, to await his expected return of former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori.
Ibori recently served out a 13-year jail term in the United Kingdom and was discharged from prison on December 21, 2016. He was convicted for money laundering by the British court.
Several people, across social boundaries, lined out at the Osubi Airstrip, near Warri, and his Oghara hometown in Ethiope West council area, waiting for his arrival.
Well wishers and kinsmen of the former governor, including former aides and incumbent political office holders, elected and appointed, started arriving the airstrip from about 10am. All were still waiting as at 2:30pm, the filing time of this report.
At his Oghara hometown, excited kinsmen and women shut the entire town down with business outfits like shops and markets closed for the day. Many residents of the town had gone out to line the ever-busy Oghara Junction point of the East/West Road, waiting for the arrival of the former governor.
Explaining the mood in Oghara town to Nation, a member of the Oghara Youths Association, Kparobo Ehvwubare said the whole town had been excited and had made representation in the grand reception for their hero.
“The Oghara Youths Association is already at the express waiting for him. The palace has also sent a delegation, including His Royal Majesty, the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, accompanied by the Onugbrogodo of Ogharefe and Ogharekhi, as well as the Iyasere, to the airport to receive him.
“The Oghara Social Media Group has also led a delegation to the express to await his arrival, mounting banners at strategic points. The council chairman has also led a delegation to the airport to receive him.
“Because of his benevolence and good antecedents in Oghara, many shop and stall owners as well as markets, of their own volition, decided to shut down today to honour him and to all come out to receive him, there was no official call for businesses to be shut down today, they just decided to do it,” he said.
Some of those at the airport to receive the former governor were council chairmen, members of the state’s House of Assembly, appointed office holders, traditional rulers, youths and other social bodies.
Among those present were the Secretary to the State Government, Victor Ovie Agas; Commissioner for Environment, John Nani; chairman of Sapele council area, Ejaefe Odebala; chairman of Ethiope West, Solomon Golley and chairman of Okpe council area, Prince Godwin Ejinyere.
Others were the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, William Makinde; Pius Ovbije (POC), a commissioner on the board of DESOPADEC, Chief Emmanuel Ighomena, a Senior Special Assistant to the governor; Chief Emmanuel Ganiga, National President of the UK branch of UPU; Chairman of DSIEC, Mr Moses Ogbe and member representing Okpe constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori.
The waiting parties at both the Osubi Airstrip and Oghara town were still on edge as at about 2:30pm, when this report was being filed.
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Delta has no problem with Ibori – Commissioner
Delta State Government said that it had no case with former Governor, James Ibori and as such was very happy for his release from the London prison.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, stated this in Asaba while responding to questions after briefing newsmen on some of the decisions at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year.
It would be recalled that Ibori was on Dec. 21 released from prison after completing his sentence for fraud in a London prison.
According to Ukah, the close associate of the former governor and all those who knew him and loved him expressed joy at his release.
“We are all very happy that our son, our brother, the former governor has been released. So, it is a thing of joy and the only expression as a state is that we are happy.
“I think for everybody, who has a personal relationship with him, will be very happy and I think that as a state we don’t have issues with our former governor and he is somebody that everybody loved,” he said.He said that in the last meeting, the state government had approved the award of more roads contracts and assured that ongoing roads construction would get a boost in April next year.
He said the roads approved for constructions and repairs include the construction of Abraka Township road in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state and Owa Alero-Ute Okpu road in Ika North East LGA.
Other are the construction of Agrarian community roads cutting across Issele-Uku, Onicha-Uku, Ugbodo, Okumnzu, Obumkpa-Idumogo Road in Aniocha LGA and the rehabilitation of Ozoro-Oleh Road in Isoko North and South LGAs.
Also, the construction of Burutu Township road in Burutu LGA, rehabilitation of Charles Street in Agbor, Ika South LGA among others.
The commissioner said that the construction of the Ughelli-Afizere road about 8.5 kilometres road would be completed by April next year.
“Also on the construction of the road in Okpanam, the contractor had gone on the break and to resume work Jan. 5, and with the mandate to connect the drains. Work will run and receive appreciable impact before April 2017,’’ he said. -
London court frees James Ibori as deportation hearing begins in Jan.
Convicted former Delta State Governor James Ibori has been released from jail despite attempts by the British Home Secretary to detain him further.
Ibori was due for release on Tuesday, having agreed to be deported after serving half of his 13-year sentence.
But it became evident that Home Secretary Amber Rudd did not intend to deport Ibori to Nigeria until he handed over £18m of “proceeds of crime”.
But Justice May said attempts to detain him were “quite extraordinary”, according to a BBC report.
Ordering Ibori to be immediately freed from prison, Mrs Justice May said: “You don’t hold someone just because it is convenient to do so and without plans to deport them.”
A Home Office application that Ibori be electronically tagged and subject to strict curfew conditions was also rejected after the judge accepted arguments that the home secretary was attempting to misuse her immigration and deportation powers.
Ibori, a former London DIY store cashier, was jailed for fraud totalling nearly £50m in April 2012.
He evaded capture in Nigeria after a mob of supporters attacked police but was arrested in Dubai in 2010 and extradited to the United Kingdom (UK) – where he was prosecuted based on evidence from the Metropolitan Police.
Yesterday, the Home Office’s barrister said the government was concerned that Ibori might “frustrate confiscation proceedings” and wanted him kept in jail or subject to strict controls on his movement.
But it emerged in court that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is pursuing the confiscation proceedings, was “neutral” about Ibori’s release and possible deportation.
Ian MacDonald QC, representing Ibori, said: “The Secretary of State has taken it upon herself. There is no objection from (the CPS) for release.”
“This is extraordinary,” Mrs Justice May said. “They (the CPS) don’t care.”
“Why doesn’t the Secretary of State just send him back?” she asked. “He wants to go. She wants him to go.”
Ibori’s conviction followed a UK government anti-corruption campaign led by the Department for International Development (DfID) 10 years ago.
But earlier this year, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, demanded a review of the evidence following allegations that police took bribes and prosecutors covered it up.
“The review team found material to support the assertion that a police officer received payment in return for information,” the CPS admitted in September.
Ibori’s lawyer, Ivan Krolic, explained yesterday in court how another defendant in the fraud case had appealed against conviction on the grounds that “police officers in the investigations had been corrupt”.
“The court of appeal rejected that after counsel for the Crown indicated that there was nothing to support the allegation,” Mr Krolic explained.
“And then it turned out there was,” Mrs Justice May interjected. “Yes”, Mr Krolic replied.
Ordering Ibori’s release, Mrs Justice May said: “The Secretary of State appears to have taken it upon herself that Mr Ibori does remain in this country, in apparent contradiction of the order served earlier this year to deport him.
“The position of the Secretary of State, as very candidly set out by Mr Birdling (representing the home secretary), is that she accepts that there is an argument that she has no power to detain him.
“I have decided that the balance of convenience falls heavily in favour of his immediate release.
“I am not prepared to impose conditions involving tagging or curfews.”
The judge said the matter of Ibori’s deportation should be heard before the end of January.
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Photos: Freed Ibori in London
Ibori with family and friends after his release . 
Freed Ibori 
Freed Ibori Photo: The Will -
How Ibori secured freedom – Aide
Despite the completion of his jail term, ex-Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, on Wednesday fought till the last minute to regain freedom.
The British Home Office was said to have opposed Ibori’s release because confiscation hearing had not been concluded.
But the Crown Prosecution lawyer, Sian Davies, did not object to Ibori’s release and return to Nigeria.
The drama which beclouded Ibori’s release was contained in a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor.
The statement said: “At 12: 20 p.m. Wednesday 21 December 2016, Her Honour, Mrs. Justice Juliet May, Queen’s Counsel, dropped her verdict; she ordered the immediate release of Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
“With that Ibori’s lawyers won a major victory against the British Home Office, at the Royal Court of Justice, Queens Court 1, London, by successfully challenging the decision not to release Ibori who was due for freedom on Tuesday, December 20, after serving his sentence.
“In a curious move, the British Home Office, instead of releasing Ibori on December 20, informed him that he would be detained.
“So, in court, Ibori’s lawyers exposed the injustice in the indefinite detention the Home Office had planned for Ibori. They told the judge that there were no grounds in law under which Ibori could be detained and that his detention for one day by the Home office was unlawful.
“Therefore, there was high drama in the British High Court as senior lawyers for the UK’s Home Office failed in their last minute bid to prevent Ibori’s release.
“The apparent decision to block Ibori’s release and detain him appeared to have come from the highest echelons of the UK Government – the Home Secretary who was accused in today’s hearing of acting unlawfully and misusing her powers.
“The Crown Prosecution lawyer, Sian Davies, did not object to Ibori’s release and return to Nigeria, yet at the last minute the Home Office stepped in. There is clear discord between the two arms of the British Government.
“Ibori’s team was led by Ian McDonald QC, the leading QC on immigration.
“The visibly irritated judge could not understand the Home Secretary’s position and at times was critical of the move to detain Ibori any further. Mrs. Justice May rejected the Home Secretary’s requests for conditions to be imposed and ordered Ibori’s immediate release.
“Ivan Krolic, who also attended, explained that Ibori’s confiscation proceedings collapsed in 2013, after the prosecution was unable to establish any theft from Delta State and any benefit for Ibori, from anywhere. A three-week hearing which heard live evidence was abandoned by the prosecutors – Wass QC and Shutzer-Weissman. Both prosecutors have since been dismissed from the case for gross misconduct.
“Krollic further explained that British police officers in the case led by DC McDonald have again been referred to the Independent Public Complaints Commission and now face a thorough investigation into their corrupt activities in this case. The CPS has confirmed officers in the case were corrupt. It has since disclosed substantial material evidencing the graft.
“Ibori and others have long maintained that this prosecution was politically motivated. It was funded by the UK’s Department for International Development, DFID, whose senior employee was also the jury foreperson in one of the earlier trials.
“The Ibori case has been plagued with British police corruption, exceptional prosecutorial misconduct and fundamental non-disclosure. A multitude of appeals have now been launched or are in the process of being launched.”