Ibori’s Posters Flood Country Home As Kinsmen Await His Return From Uk PrisonI

OGHARA  in Ethiope West Local Government Area, Delta State, the country home of the former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, aka Odidigborigbo of Africa, has been keyed up in the past two weeks following reports that the 59-year-old political leader jailed by Southwark Crown court in Britain for money laundering, 2012, is likely to regain his freedom.

Ibori, who ruled”the Big Heart of the nation” from 1999-2007 was one of the most influential governors during his time and he established a political dynasty that produced his successor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the incumbent governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Just because there has been speculations that the influential former governor will be released,  Oghara town has been adorned with posters of Ibori in anticipation of his return. Also, his country  home is undergoing reconstruction apparently because of his anticipated return.

 Associates and loyalists are also catching up on the event to pledge their loyalty to Chief Ibori as they adorn the banners with their pictures side by side the former governor. Some of the banners, which were placed at the Market roundabout, Ibori roundabout and entrance of Oghara, have inscriptions such as: “Welcome back home, our national leader,” “The political messiah and his kinsmen”

Aside the banners around town (Oghara), it is  obvious that there will be a carnival like celebration the day Ibori would step his feet into Oghara town. This is because as governor of Delta State, he spearheaded the development of Oghara kingdom and till date, Oghara is still a town to reckon with compared to other metropolitan towns in Delta State in terms of infrastructural development.

he man James Ibori James Ibori   attended Baptist High School, Oghareki now called Oghareki Grammar School. Thereafter, he got admission into the University of Benin where he earned a Bachelor of Science in economics and statistics.   Ibori moved to London, England in 1990, where he married his wife, Theresa Ibori who then worked as a cashier at Wickes DIY store in Ruislip, Middlesex. Returning to Nigeria between 1994 and 1997, Ibori served as consultant to the federal government led by  Gen Sani Abacha, in the areas of public policy formulation and implementation. Ibori’s political career began in 1990 when he joined the National Republican Convention (NRC). In 1991, he was nominated to contest for the Federal House of Representatives seat to represent Ethiope federal constituency. He lost the election to the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). When the Transitin Program of  Sani Abacha began, he joined the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). The GDM managed a number of local, state and federal offices, including one of the three senatorial seats in the state. The transition program was abruptly ended with the death of Abacha. Ibori then with the leaders of other political groups in Delta State, formed the Delta National Congress (DNC). The DNC later merged with other political parties to become the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). It was on the platform of PDP that Ibori then contested and won the January 9, 1999 election. In 2003, he was re-elected as governor for another four -year term.