Immediate past Governor of Delta state has described ex-Delta Governor, Chief James Ibori as true incarnate of Delta State Alias "The Big Heart" and has since forgiven all his political traducers who fought against him culminating in the jail misfortune.
Uduaghan spoke at the Thanksgiving and Grand Reception in honour of former governor Ibori by the Urhobo political class at the Unity Square, Ovwor, Olomu, Ughelli South local government area of the state.
He said Ibori remains a unifying factor in the political arena of the state and nation at large and thanked all who stood and visited Ibori during his incarceration in London, adding that the ex-governor needs more support now that he back in the country.
According to him, people were spreading wild rumours of discord to create bad blood between him and his brother, Ibori but they have been put to shame.
“Ibori has a very big forgiving spirit, you people know we grow up together and I know that part of him from birth. Ibori has forgiven all the people who caused him that misfortune.
“They have all been put to shame now. I am here today as the immediate past governor of Delta state. But what’s more important as a blood brother of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, I want to thank everyone especially our spiritual fathers who visited him where he was, I thank you all.
“There were so many rumours in this our state that I did not visit him. So if I visit him I should come and tell you that I visited.? All those behind such rumours, where are they today? Dr. Uduaghan reflected.
"They have been put to shame, he’s our national leader, worldwide leader and we must all give him the full support”, Uduaghan stressed, adding that Ibori, on his return, has put right all that went wrong when he was away.
National Chairman of the, People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Uche Secondus, who was special guest at the ceremony, described former governor James Ibori as a unifying factor in the development of the Niger Delta region and Delta State in particular.
“Ibori is a man of the people not just in Delta state but across the nation today. He is a factor in this country. On behalf of the masses of our country, we salute you, we salute your courage because you are a man who believes in the struggle of the party”, Secondus said.
In same vein, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, acknowledged Chief James Ibori as the national leader of the party in the state and the nation.
“Ibori is our national leader, he laid the foundation of development in the state and established a political structure that we are enjoying today. Ibori is an Urhobo man who is good and believe in ‘chop I chop’ principles. I know things are tough this period but I want all of you to be rest assured that once our party, PDP return to power in Abuja come 2019 everything will change for good.” Okowa said.
An old associate of Chief Ibori, who hosted the reception, Chief John Oguma said former governor James Ibori impacted positively on the state and as a national leader, stabilised the political terrain, describing him as a man with large heart.
The recipient, Ibori disclosed that he has forgiven all who played one role or the other in his incarceration in London, and thanked everyone who has given him support in one way or the other adding that in the coming days, his action will tell it all.
Ibori, was governor of Delta state from 1999 to 2007 was accused of stealing nearly £50m from the coffers of the oil-rich state. He was jailed in April 2012 in the UK for corruption charges leveled against by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He regained freedom in 2016 and returned to Nigeria last year.
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