Ijaw Group Begs for Ibori, Urges Jonathan to Grant him Presidential Pardon
Chief James Ibori
LAGOS APRIL 20TH (URHOBOTODAY)—AN Ijaw group, the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, in Delta State, weekend, called on President Godluck Jonathan to grant presidential pardon to the former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, before his exit from Aso Villa, next month.
National President the group, Mr. Austin Ozobo, in interactive with newsmen, said: “Chief Ibori has suffered enough and there is no justification for not granting him clemency, as had been done to others.”
Ozobo said Ibori was not the only corrupt leader in the country, but unfortunately, he has undergone indescribable hardship more than others.
“Ibori should be freed. Hundreds of persons, who looted heavily from government coffers are walking freely in the streets. The continuous incarceration of one corrupt man among a million other corrupt citizens cannot change the menace of high level corruption in the country.
‘’Ibori’s imprisonment could be seen as a witch-hunt and such is highly barbaric and provocative and the Nigerian government must quickly do something about his matter. ‘’Despite the ordeals Ibori is passing through, Deltans hold him in high esteem and his great achievements while in office cannot be discountenanced.
‘’There should be no sacred cow among political office holders. Ibori’s case is not different, he is a victim of circumstances. Release him and let him breathe fresh air and let other corrupt public office holders be tried as well.”
This call is mis-guided in the extreme. Ibori is not convicted of any offence in this country, so the presidential pardon is not applicable. He was convicted based on his own plea of guilt in the UK and the exercise of our president’s constitutional power to grant a pardon does not apply to the UK. It is true that there are many corrupt politicians in Nigeria walking freely on the streets, well you know say, na who dem catch na im be thief! So, e go hard to grant pardon and no govt would want to be seen to be condoning corruption by pardoning Ibori especially with out international reputation as a Country loaded with fraudsters. So na so d thing be.
Well said, Wadoo. Ibori is the bane behind the rot in Delta state politics. He is power drunk and his win at all cost tendency has debased Delta State politics. I am not against the governorship going to Delta North but in democracy let the better candidate win. Okowa is part of Ibori corrupt clan. He is tutored in Iborism. If credible persons from Delta North like Pat. Utomi etc. contested the governorship election and won clean and fair, that will be applauded. See how Okowa outwitted Nweke to be Delta North senator using PDP Jonathan’s presidency to arm twist the judiciaries to circumvent justice. Ibori has done bad to Delta State and Nigeria in general and must be punish. I hope he remains in UK after his jail term because I will be among those hundreds who will root for his prosecution in Nigeria. The blood of innocent Deltans who died during his time jostling for governor and cousin brother will stop crying until Ibori is put behind bar in Nigeria. For now Chief Ogboru is the man in Delta State that can fit in the shoe of people like Ghandi, Mandela etc.
Well said, Wadoo. Ibori is the bane behind the rot in Delta state politics. He is power drunk and his win at all cost tendency has debased Delta State politics. I am not against the governorship going to Delta North but in democracy let the better candidate win. Okowa is part of Ibori corrupt clan. He is tutored in Iborism. If credible persons from Delta North like Pat. Utomi etc. contested the governorship election and won clean and fair, that will be applauded. See how Okowa outwitted Nwoke of DPP to be Delta North senator using PDP Jonathan’s presidency to arm twist the judiciaries to circumvent justice. Ibori has done bad to Delta State and Nigeria in general and must be punish. I hope he remains in UK after his jail term because I will be among those hundreds who will be rooting for his prosecution in Nigeria. The blood of innocent Deltans who died during his time jostling for governor and that of his cousin brother will stop crying until after Ibori is put behind bar in Nigeria. For now Chief Ogboru is the man in Delta State that can fit in the shoe of people like Ghandi, Mandela etc.