According to Henry Kissinger, former US National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, “The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been”. So it is with former Executive Governor of Delta State and the political colossus of our time, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, as relations, friends and admirers early this week, joined him to celebrate his 66th birthday.
Without any doubt, before he became governor, he was loved and showed all the traits of leadership. And becoming governor, the manifestation of his leadership traits and capacity became more evident, as he put the ladder in place to uplift men and women in the state and beyond from nowhere to somewhere; from the bottom to the top, and from no destination to a destination.
This is what my friends call, “Building a structure for growth”. You may wish to call it “A ladder for growth”, but I tell you, most sincerely, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has used his “Ladder for growth” to build men and women, within and outside the shores of this country. Little wonder, therefore, many of those he made speak glowingly of him, years after he had left office as governor.
They have chosen to be good, faithfully and loyal friends, years after he left office as governor. In good and bad times; high and low moments, they have remained loyal and faithful to him. Therefore, when he turned 66 this week, many of them have chosen to celebrate him and have spoken glowingly of his person. They have chosen to identify with a political colossus, a builder of men, a unique team player and a champion of Resource Control As a show of honour and respect for this political colossus and leader, many of his friends and admirers within and outside of the state have made pleasant comments about him as he marked his 66th birthday.
Among them is Olorogun Dr. (Engr) Mathew Edevbie, who described him this way: “True Leaders are defined by their authenticity, tenacity and large heartedness. Like gold, they get better with fire. And like wine, they acquire value with age. My very dear brother, Odidigboigbo, you are one. You have pushed against all odds to stand very tall and supportive in all ramifications. I can attest to this because I have been part of your story of courage, doggedness, and kindness. May God continue to support you to rise above all challenges as you continue to lead our people”.
And the Chairman, Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chinedu Ebie, Esq has this to say about him: “Odidigboigbo, you knew what was best for the Niger Delta and valiantly championed the Resource Control struggle. Generations from the region will continue to thank you for your large vision and exceptional leadership”.
Also, not left out from the goodwill messages to this political Colossus, James Onanefe Ibori, is the Delta Unity Group (DUG) as they have this to say: “Being the visionary father of Modern Delta State, you have steadfastly been a Pathfinder and a selfless leader. We cherish your humble virtues of empathy, equity and consensus building and especially your steadfast and unfailing love for our dear State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
“Where there is fear or despair, you have always given hope; driven by your explicit faith in your followers. As an exceptional leader, we are proud to continuously thread your path of courage, fearlessness and principles.
Born 4 August 1958, Chief James Onanefe Ibori was Governor of Delta State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. An ethnic Urhobo by descent, Ibori is a member of the Peoplest Democratic Party(PDP). He is a leader in the Niger Delta region and a national figure.
Born to the family of late Chief Ukavbe Ibori and Mrs. Comfort Oji Ibori of Otefe in Oghara clan, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, he attended Baptist High School, Oghareki, now Oghareki Grammar School, before proceeding to the University of Benin, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Statistics. Thereafter, he moved to London, England in the 1980s for greener pastures.
Returning to Nigeria, between 1994 and 1997 he served as a consultant to the Federal Government of late President Sani Abacha, in the areas of public policy formulation and implementation. In 1999, he contested for Governor of Delta State.
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 Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate.
When the Sani Abacha Transition Programme kicked off, he joined the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). The GDM clinched a good number of local, state and federal positions, including one of the three senatorial seats in the state. The transition programme was abruptly terminated with the death of Abacha. Ibori then, with the leaders of other defunct political groups in Delta State, formed the Delta National Congress (DNC).
The DNC later merged with many others of like ideas to birth the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was on the platform of the PDP that he contested and won 9 January, 1999 Delta State gubernatorial election.
In 2003, he was re-elected as governor for another four-year term.
As part of Chief Ibori’s struggle for resource control in the Niger Delta Region, permit me to recall what he said six years ago, at the launch of the book, Attah On Resource Control, written by the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos
According to him, contrary to the impression being created, what has been politically settled between the oil producing states and the Federal Government was the issue of onshore/offshore dichotomy and not the issue of derivation.
The derivation aspect of the agitation for resource control has not been settled, we still have a long way to travel.
He lamented that the people of the Niger Delta region who bore the brunt of oil exploration and exploitation still have nothing to show for all their sacrifices, adding that their woes were being made worse in recent time by the way and manner security agents are destroying the illegal refineries in the region. He lamented that this has created so much environmental degradation that is even worse than when he was in government.
