I was never guilty of the offences leveled against me - Ibori

- After seven years of serving jail term in
London prison, Ibori has spoken on his
prison experience
- He says what pained him most was not
actually his prison service but his people
whom he left behind
- He, however, said he was not guilty of the
offences leveled against him but he
accepted it as a way to escape the plot of
his enemies
Former governor of Delta state, Chief James
Ibori on Sunday, February 12, 2017 said he
never once doubted his prospect of returning
to Nigeria and reuniting with his friends,
political associates and kinsmen in Oghara,
Ethiope west local government area of the
state.
Ibori also dismissed insinuations that he was
guilty of the offences to which he admitted
in 2012, disclosing that at the point of his
trial, his guilty plea was the only leeway with
which he could escape the malevolent plot of
his enemies under the guise of anti-
corruption crusade.
The former governor spoke in Oghara during
a thanksgiving service organized by the
leadership of Oghara community and held at
the First Baptist Church, Ogharefe.
The event was widely attended by thousands
of supporters, including Ibori's elder cousin
and successor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan;
Ibori's deputy, Chief Benjamin Elue, former
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Steve
Oru, Managing Director of Delta State Oil
Producing Areas Development Commission
(DESOPADEC), Chief Williams Makinde,
traditional rulers, serving and former
commissioners, political stalwarts, captains of
industries and artisans across the state.
Ibori who spoke in English and Urhobo
languages revealed that the reality of his
seven years absence from the country was
not as painful as the suffering and pains
which his people were subjected to within
the period of his absence.
His words: "My entire life is a testimony; I
have said it over and again that my life was
fashioned by God, directed by God, seen,
acknowledged and blessed by God. I have
always believed that since I was born, I’m
living in accordance with destiny.
"When the whole commotion started, what was
most painful to me was the pains and
sufferings that my people were going through.
It had nothing to do with me as a person
because for some reasons, I drew my strength
from God and, somehow, I knew God will
stand by me.
"I knew that one day, this day of celebration
will come. I am indeed very pleased that I can
now stand before you and look at your faces,
especially the faces of those I have missed and
those who suffered the pains of my absence.
"When I reflect on the past, it gives me joy
that all your prayers have been answered by
God; all your support and solidarity with me
all through this period are untellable.
"The only testimony I have is the fact that I
am alive, well and in your midst. I never had
any doubt whatsoever in mind that I will get
back home. ”
On his guilty plea about seven years ago,
Ibori maintained that his analysis of the
situation showed that his life was at stake
and the enemies were bent on taking him
from his people, hence he accepted his
alleged offences as a "pragmatic decision" to
thwart the plans of his foes.
He narrated how he had pre-informed
Uduaghan of his intention of going for the
guilty plea which, he said, was "the shortest
route back to his people ", insisting that he was
not guilty as alleged.
Ibori, who was in a very high spirit, led the
congregation in songs of victory just as
special prayers were offered for him and his
family members, Oghara community, Ethiope
west, Delta state and Nigeria.
Earlier in a homily titled: "Knowing the Gift
of God", the South-South Chairman of the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),
Archbishop Goddowell Awomakpa, said Ibori
served as a bridge that united the church
with the government of the state, urging
politicians to be more concerned with the
welfare of the masses than their personal
gratification.
Awomakpa also enjoined political leaders to
shun hatred for one another, charging them
to embrace humility and respect for the
electorate during and after their tenure in
offices.
Meanwhile, prominent kinsmen of Ibori have
continued to eulogize the former governor,
describing him as people oriented and
generally acceptable to Nigerians.

Former Commissioner for power and energy
and Chairman of the Ibori's thanksgiving
central planning committee, Chief Emmanuel
Ighomena, expressed utmost gratitude to God
for keeping Ibori alive despite the desire of
persecutors to get him dead or alive.
In an interaction with newsmen, Ighomena
attributed the jubilations that greeted Ibori's
return to his continuous struggle for the
emancipation of the Niger Delta region,
noting that Ibori never fought a personal
cause but advanced the true yearnings of
Nigerians.
On his part, a former Commissioner
representing Ethiope west, Sapele and Okpe
local government areas on the board of
DESOPADEC, Chief Henry Ofa, urged
everyone "to accord Chief Ibori the greatest
respect that he deserves and tell others to do
same", adding: "We must heed his fatherly
advice and show him all the needed love.”
"As we all rise in unity to reaffirm our undying
loyalty to this great leader, we must
understand that each of us has a stake in the
issue at hand; we have a role to play and we
have an all important task to perform.
"Now, more than ever, has the rolling ball
been placed on our courts; it is either we score
the goal and continue in our unabating joy or
stand the risk of missing the reward forever. A
fact worth knowing is that history beckons on
you .”
On her part, a lecturer at the Delta State
University, Abraka, Dr. (Mrs) Elizabeth Ogini
observed that the time for a genuine
reconciliation between Ibori and all
aggrieved interests has come, noting that
there is no gain in bickering.