NEWs: I am not a thief, I cannot be a thief- James Ibori

Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanife Ibori, yesterday reaffirmed his innocence of charges levelled against him in the United Kingdom where he served  jail term, said, “I am not a thief.”


Chief Ibori, who spoke in English and his native Urhobo
dialect, gave the clarification at a thanksgiving service
organised in honour of him by the monarch and people of
Oghara kingdom at the First Baptist Church, Oghara.


The former governor, who was dressed in light brown
native and blue wrapper, was ushered into the church
during the praise and worship session at about 10.25a.m
in company of his sister, Christie Ibori-Ibie, daughter and
member, state House of Assembly, Hon Eriatakhe Ibori
and a host of other dignitaries.

Speaking for the first time since his arrival after serving
his jail term in London, Chief Ibori said: “Today, I have
decided to speak for myself, I am not a thief, I cannot be
a thief. Today is the day they say I should give testimony
to God, for those that know me, you know that my entire
life is a testimony itself and I have said it over and over
again that my life is fashioned by God, directed by God,
sealed, acknowledged, blessed by God and I believe that
since the day I was born.
“Like the Arch Bishop said, when this whole commotion
started, what was most painful to me was the pain and
suffering that my people were going through.
“It has nothing to do with me as a person because for
some reasons like I said to you, I drew my strength from
God and somehow, I knew that God would stand by me, I
knew that one day, and this day would come. I am indeed
very pleased that I can now stand before you and look at
your faces, faces that I have missed and those of you
that have indeed suffered the pains of my absence. It has
nothing to do with me.

“So, when I reflect, it gives me joy that all your prayers,
God has answered, all your support and solidarity with
me all through this period, it is indeed not what I can
begin to say…”
“If I am to give testimony of my journey, you will not
leave here. The only testimony that I have is the fact that
I am back and alive in your midst. And again I say that I
never had any doubt in my mind that I would get back
home,” he said.

Speaking in Urhobo, Ibori asserted: “There is an Urhobo
adage that says it is in the river that one changes clothes,
it is in the river that I changed my cloth.”
“When I looked how things were going, I discovered that
they want to separate me from you people. They want
me to go to the corner where I will not be seen.
“That is how I see it. At a point, I called my elder brother
(former Governor Uduaghan) that this is how I can get
home, that this is what I am about to do now. It was a
pragmatic decision. I am happy to be home with my
people. There is nobody that can battle with the Lord.
Urhobo adage says there is time for everything
(Okemutie). A day will come when I will tell my story and
every one of you will hear me. Today is to thank God,” he
added.

Earlier, the South-South chairman, Christian Association
of Nigeria, CAN, Arch Bishop Gpddowell Awomakpa, who
delivered a sermon on “Knowing the Gift of God,” said:
“Ibori was the point of contact that unites government
with the church. What we actually need are politicians,
who would go into politics for the betterment of the land.”
“James Ibori comes from God and as we speak, he
represents another government up there. In Urhobo land,
we have two people who made mighty impact. Olorogun
Michael Ibru, after him, all of them went there for their
pocket until the time of Brother James.
“Some of you while in office did not even build a house
for anyone, but this building that we are in here today,
was actually built by Brother James, besides who
believed that Brother James would come and be here with
us today. Today indeed calls for joy and celebration for
the people of Oghara kingdom,” the clergy man asserted.
In his remark, the Ovie of Oghara kingdom, Orefe III, who
spoke on behalf of the people of the kingdom, said:
“Oghara is blessed with a very big son in who we are well
pleased.

“Our son has placed Oghara in a very big map for which
we are very happy. We lost our son for some time; he
went to a special school and is it not right that we
celebrate him? He has touched so many lives and for that
we are indeed happy.”
Dignitaries present at the event include the former Delta
State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, member
representing Ethiope Federal constituency in the national
assembly, Hon. Lovett Idisi, Speaker of the Delta State
House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya, Secretary
to the Delta State Government, Chief Ovie Agas, Delta
State APC factional chairman, Chief Adolor Okotie-Ebor,
Senator Patrick Osakwe, Chief Ighoyota Amori, Ovuzorie
Macaulay, a cross section of monarchs and a host of
political appointees from Delta State.