JAMES ONANEFE IBORI: NIGERIA AS THE LAND OF ODDITIES

A PIECE BY: Moshood Isamotu


The Yorubas have a popular proverb to draw home ethical and cultural value for an unremorseful family of a confirmed thief. It says “Bi oju oba ti ole, oye ki oju ti ara ile re” ( i.e If a thief is not ashamed of his disgraceful act, his relations ought to).
Reports, backed with pictures, showed how the Oghara community and friends in Delta State are celebrating the release from prison of their worthy-thief-Commander-son, James Ibori for successfully serving a jail term after conviction for looting Treasury while he presided as Governor of Delta State. This is dysfunctional, 
insulting, obscene and a product of insanity and wretched thinking to say the least. The act looks bizarre enough even for the movies.
He even shamefully posed for pictures as first timer to London Eye or Travagal Square will do in UK.

Ibori served abbreviated 6 years jail for betraying public thrust while he “served himself and his cronies” as Governor of Delta State by laundering money meant for roads, water, health, education and welfare of the his home State. The present poor state of these facilities are some of the reasons being advanced by Delta Militants at the moment for taking up arms against Nigeria. And the same people, not all anyway, are celebrating their worthy son in whom they are well pleased for being a confirmed “glocalized” thief who stole their common patrimony. Please, tell me what lessons are being passed to future generations through this ignominious act? What is their sense of pride on this? They are simply rewriting the social rule of justice, public good, offence and sanctions. I feel the pain, trauma and the emotional embarrassment the Oghara Community is inflicting on their other kinsmen who think differently.
Nigeria has a way of amusing, albeit surprising, the world with oddities. Breakthrough feats are sure credible means to gain entry into the Guinness Book of records. No doubt, many Nigerians have earned prestigious space in the reputed and coveted Guinness Book for doing great things in sports, arts, medicine, education, IT etc. 
By their ugly act, in reverse gear, ex-convict James Ibori and his kinsmen have also earned a prominent dark space in the Guinness Book. Ibori’s “feat” did not push the world further in advancement or makes the world better. He is a confirmed thief and worst still he is shamefully being celebrated by his Oghara clan State for being a kleptomania. Anyway, this is not the first time Ibori’s name was mentioned in fraud cases. It was just that the gods were angry with him on this one and had to serve a jail term.
Nigeria has several times occupies a one digit place among the most corrupt nations in the world, courtesy of many Iboris the country is blessed with. And with Ibori’s acclaimed feat and consequent celebrations that followed his release, Nigeria should get No. 1 or 2 this time around in the Transparency International Corruption Index. The act is stunning, not because Ibori’s loot broke world records in fraud’s figure, but for having the backing of his people who will welcome him home with an award winning celebrations.
Why do Ibori people are celebrating what should earn him opprobrium in decent climes instead of being rueful? This is a joke taken too far. Does the act better represent the thinking and ways of live of an average people in his home town? Or maybe they want to give him a soft landing or they believe that stealing and jail matter are some of those ordinary things in Nigeria? Really, many in Ibori’s class are thieves but the Ibori 's people are different clowns. I guess Ibori may get the title of a “Conqueror” and become an APC stalwart when he finally arrives home.

What is my business in this case? I am a Nigerian and the ugly image arising out of it will rub on me as a fellow citizen outside the country. Also, the money Ibori stole belongs to all because I expect to ride on good roads if I go to Asaba or anywhere in that axis.
Why are the elders in that axis keeping silent if the youths are misbehaving and going out of order by crowning a world-class thief as a worthy son? I remember when Chief Bode George went for thanksgiving when he came out of jail. Many Yorubas, old and young, condemned the act and castigated the Priest who presided over the event. Ex-President Obasanjo had to come out to condemn Bode George and that he was tricked to attend the thanksgiving. Ex IGP Tafa Balogun does not get invited to social events even in his home town despite his status because he mis-represented them while he served as IGP upon all what he did for the area. Musiliu Obanikoro, ex Minister, was at the 8-day remembrance service for Late Rasheed Gbadamosi few weeks ago in Ikorodu. He sneaked into the venue and people did not look at time twice while many spoke in hush tones calling him unprintable names. I was there. Yet, he has just being accused of fraud and not yet convicted.
In real African tradition, being accused of being a thief is enough for people, friends and relations, to dissociate from the person. Not anymore. In the past, coming out of prison attracted so much stigma to the extent that suicide was always an option for the victim
To Ibori’s family, clan and friends, celebrating Ibori’s jail term will not change the content and context of his ex-prisoner status and those dark chapters cannot be erased in his biography. 
Welcome, Mr. ex-convict, ex-prisoner, treasury looter James Onanefe (Omamefe) Ibori. Up Deltans!