Comrade Ofotokun
Today is August 4th, 2022. On this day sixty four years ago one of the world most celebrated iconic leader, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the “Odidigborigbo”, was born in the sleepy community of Otefe, in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Ibori, was just like any of the children of his age while growing up. Of cause, he was not born with a silver spoon, but he struggled to attained the level of life he was destined to live, yet he never forgot his humble beginning in leadership.
In 1999, Chief Ibori, took the political world by storm. Despite the fact that not many people expected him to make an appreciable impact at his debut in the Delta State gubernatorial race in 1999, like a bolt from the blue, the never say die spirit in him helped him to brush aside every other contenders, won the governorship election and became His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta on May 29th, 1999.
Since that date till now, this enigma, whose regime espoused much of populist ideological framework never looked back. Chief Ibori, was a man truly destined to lead. No wonder, just after two years in the saddle of leadership as Delta State Governor, a certain kinsman of his coined out the now famous aphorism, JIMRA, meaning, James Ibori Must Rule Again. This slogan from JIMRA attested to Ibori’s landmark achievements in office. And so it was. Before Ibori, finished his first term in office, the call from almost every segment of Delta State, had been ear deafening, that Ibori, had no other choice than to heed the call to run for second term in office.
In 1999, Chief Ibori, was like a man in a hurry to succeed. The speed with which he settled down to work surprised even his worst detractor. His government built Asaba, and line it with modern infrastructure that turned the city into a befitting state capital. He then turned his attention to schools, knowing full well that education is the bedrock of development. He built schools, renovated existing ones, established additional campuses of the Delta State University, in Oleh, Asaba, in addition to the main campus at Abraka. He also established the University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, built the Delta State Polytechnics at Oghara, Ozoro and Ogwachi – Uku under the Delta State Higher Education Project, DSHEP. He also built the College of Education, at Mosogar.
He laid the foundation of the Asaba Airport, up graded the Osubi Airport in Warri, and create other massive infrastructure in the state.
Critical roads infrastructure were also built. About six long bridges were constructed – the Omadino bridge, Bomadi bridge, and the others .
On rural electrification, Ibori, ensured that all rural communities in Delta State got electricity. The Ministry of Power and Energy, plus the Rural Development Agency, RDA, rose up to the occasion. All these feats were achieved during the regime of the embullient administrator, yet not much noise was made about it.
Chief Ibori, met on ground a pocket of civil servants, and as was expected of him jacked it up through massive civil service recruitment and backed it with other incentives to boost the Delta State workforce of about seven thousand civil servants at the time he resumed office to about twenty seven thousand civil servants as at the time of exiting power in 2007.
It is also instructive to know that never was there any form of industrial strike arising from unpaid salaries or other remunerations during the eight years Ibori rule Delta State.
Ibori, was a man of peace. He also believe in equity and justice. At a time when many of his fellow governors were busy impeaching their deputies, Ibori, worked peacefully with his deputy, Chief Benjamin Elue. And so was the commissioners. He made them brothers, sisters and friends. He also brought peace to the process of transition in the state. His idea of power rotation has made Delta State one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria during transition. It has also led to the peaceful co-existence of the different ethnic groups in the multi ethnic Delta State. Though, he succeeded much in uniting the different ethnic groups in the state through dialogue.
Between 1999 – 2007, Ibori fought for and sustained the resource control and fiscal federalism.Through the Ibori Vanguard, he made the Niger Delta struggle for resource control a global phenomenon. He and other leaders of like mind exposed the plight of the Niger Delta people to the rest of the world. The sympathy of the rest of the world on the Niger Delta people and their pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria, led to the creation of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the passing of the 13 percent derivation bill through the National Assembly to boost the money accruing to the host communities in the Niger Delta region for sustainable Infrastructural, economic and social development of the region.
Ibori, got enemies in view of his struggle for resource control and fiscal federalism. But, the legacies he left behind as a result of the struggle will forever remain indelible in the anal of history.
Ibori’s struggle for the Niger Delta region was not for personal aggradisement, rather, it was for the purpose of equity and fair play on a region that produced the main stay of the national economy yet get little from the sharing formula in terms of funding, establishment of critical infrastructure and other developments.
One is happy to note that we can go on and on to count Ibori’s achievements while in power because, they were there for all to see. Ibori made people, built institutions and sustained them. Because of his solid personal achievements while in power, the people of Delta State, happily acceded to his chosen successor when he brought in one of his commissioners, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan to succeed him. Like him, Uduaghan, also did well. The excellent display of Uduaghan leadership in terms of his regime three points agenda of infrastructural development, human capital development, peace and security agenda, the ever appreciative good people of Delta State have no other choice than to support the idea of Ibori once again bringing another of his commissioner Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to take over the mantle of leadership from Uduaghan. Like Ibori and Uduaghan, Okowa, has also distinguished himself in terms of good governance,the SMART Agenda and building a Delta state of our dream.
As Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the Odidigborigbo, the enigma, the leader of leaders, the peace maker, the Pathfinder, the man of the people and one of the finest leader to have come out of Urhobo nation, clock 64 years today, one can only but applaud the leader for his sterling quality and role model to successive leaders in Delta State. It is on this joyous note that I beckorn on all Ibori’s admirers all over the world, political associates, friends and relatives, as well as other well meaning Nigerians to join me and my humble family in wishing our Boss and Big Brother, His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the iconic leader, Happy Birthday as he clock 64 years today.
May God Almighty grant him and his lovely family Long Life, Good Health, and Prosperity.
Once Again, I say Happy Birthday to the Odidigborigbo..
Comrade Edafe Ofotokun is a kinsman of His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, wrote from Oghara, Delta State.
