WHAT IS IBORI'S POLITICAL PROPAGANDA SHOW-OFF INTENDED TO ACHIEVE? DELTANS, WE WILL NEVER DEVELOP WHEN WE STILL ACCORD PRAISES AND RESPECT TO UNREPENTANT/UNREMORSEFUL EX AND SERVING PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS
May 6, 2021 | News
I am greatly saddened in my heart whenever I see the people of Delta State ‘ignorantly’ and ‘consciously’ think that the likes of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, are their messiahs, redeemers and the only people who should decide the progress of the State.
-By Zik Gbemre
WHAT IS IBORI'S POLITICAL PROPAGANDA SHOW-OFF INTENDED TO ACHIEVE? DELTANS, WE WILL NEVER DEVELOP WHEN WE STILL ACCORD PRAISES AND RESPECT TO UNREPENTANT/UNREMORSEFUL EX AND SERVING PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS
Delta State problem is caused by Deltans…
How on earth are we going to develop as a people and a State, if this sort of absurdity not seen in other developed climes, is encouraged here without any iota of shame? …
Just because the people were given some ‘PEANUTS’ out of the stolen loot of these politicians, does that mean the people should forget their sense of reasoning? …
This culture of hailing the Government when they do what is expected of them, is the reason why these political leaders feel they are doing us a favour when they do something…
Ibori has shown no sort of remorse, or has repented from the financial atrocities he has committed against Delta State…
I am greatly saddened in my heart whenever I see the people of Delta State ‘ignorantly’ and ‘consciously’ think that the likes of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, are their messiahs, redeemers and the only people who should decide the progress of the State. Whereas, in actual fact, these people are the very ones whose past and current deeds and inclinations are greatly part of the reasons why Delta State have not been able to attain the desired development. And we will never develop and see any significant progress in the State if this status quo is sustained.
It is absolutely shameless to see the political propaganda show-off of James Ibori, and one wonders what exactly does he intend to achieve with it? Truth be told, Deltans are the very architect of their own misfortunes and underdevelopment as a State. As for Ibori he is a shameless and unrepentant politician who is not willing to change his lifestyle.
Every well-meaning Deltan should be greatly troubled when we see our people ignorantly and consciously get carried away easily by the likes of Ibori. These were my thoughts, with regard to a short video being circulated on social media, which was also reposted some time ago on Facebook with the caption note: “The moment Chief Onanefe Ibori, Chief Timipre Silver, His Excellency Dcn Kingsley Otuaro, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, stepped out to dance the IBORI DANCE as Chief Barrister Smooth thrills the crowd in Okpokunou Community, Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu LGA of Delta State.”
The show of shame and absurdity that was displayed and demonstrated in the said video, as Ibori was marching out and dancing with others listed, the musician and his band sang and kept on hailing Ibori, as the Odidigboigbo of Africa, and how “Ibori is a good leader.” You need to see the crowd and how they cheered, jeered, hailed with their hands lifted high, as they sang praises of Ibori and the others with him.
I could not help but wonder why Deltans are still ‘ignorantly and consciously according’ such praises, honour, respect and recognition to someone like Ibori, who had served about 4 years out of a 13-year sentence in Britain for massively stealing Delta State funds (meant for the development of the State and its people), with the active help of his former Executive cabinet while he was Governor from 29th May 1999 to 29th May 2007? What message are we sending to the younger generation and others when this is done publicly without shame? Are we not indirectly telling our younger generation that it is okay for them to steal public funds whenever they get the chance, and they will still be celebrated as heroes even if they go to prison? How on earth are we going to develop as a people and a State, if this sort of absurdity not seen in other developed climes, is encouraged here without any iota of shame?
Regardless of whatever Ibori and the others must have done in the said Okpokunou Community, are they not aware of the enormous amount that was stolen by Ibori from the State coffers, which the British Government is still trying to mercifully repatriate to Nigeria? Are they aware that if a quarter of what Ibori had stolen, were judiciously used to develop the Community and its environs, that the place would be like Dubai in Delta State? Just because the people were given some ‘PEANUTS’ out of the stolen loot of these politicians, which also belongs to the people, does that mean the people should forget their sense of reasoning? Even those that are still serving in Government, are they doing the masses a favour whenever they execute a project for the people? What then are they there in Government to do in the first place? This culture of hailing the government when they do what is expected of them, is the reason why these political leaders feel they are doing us a favour when they do something, and we all should “bow down" for them.
However, what is more worrisome is the fact that the person (Ibori) in question was sentenced to prison for stealing from the State’s treasury. So, why are they still praising and hailing such an individual, who apparently has shown no sort of remorse, or has repented from the financial atrocities he has committed against the State? But why would Ibori be remorseful or repent from what he has done, when the people themselves still see him as their hero? Even the others that were listed, who were dancing with Ibori, are all birds of the same feathers with Ibori. These are the kind of political leaders that our people are still singing their praises and hailing to continue in their anti-people footsteps. What a shame!
It is absolute shame that our people still ignorantly think and regard Ibori as the supposed ‘messiah’ and ‘savior’ and ‘de-factor-executive-governor’ of Delta State. The question is, are Deltans really willing to embrace development? Do we really want to develop as a people? Or do we want our State to remain grossly underdeveloped while other States across the country are making significant progress ahead of us? When will our ‘eyes of understanding be enlightened’ to realize that these same people, are the major problems we have in this State? Have we ever bothered to ask ourselves if this was how countries like the UK and US, developed in a state-of-ignorance? Why should such a man still be honoured and highly-regarded publicly, by the same people he stole their public money from? When is our people going to wake-up and grow-up from this ignorant state and outright stupidity?
Ibori himself, rather than show some sign of remorse for the harm he has caused on the State with his ‘stealing-acts’, and repent from his sins and lead a low-profile life; is still trotting about in public circles, showing off like one who is drunk with power and influence. However, I blame the people more for ‘ENCOURAGING HIS APPETITE.’ How would Nigeria develop with this kind of Political Class, Elites and even ‘blind followers’ that are evident in Delta State? With such things happening in the State, it paints a picture of ‘hopelessness’ and despair of future prospects for the general masses.
Until the people start publicly shaming and disgracing the likes of Ibori and others stated, they and those coming after them will continue in their current steps, which are detrimental to the growth of the State. Delta elites, politicians and locals like places like Dubai, Kuwait, Singapore, etc., but they still prefer to remain in darkness.
As written in the Holy Bible, “My people perish due to lack of knowledge” – that is the exact thing that is responsible for the level of ignorance evident amongst our people in Delta State. The development we so desire will never come by mere ‘wishful thinking’.
Zik Gbemre.
May 6, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
-By Zik Gbemre
WHAT IS IBORI'S POLITICAL PROPAGANDA SHOW-OFF INTENDED TO ACHIEVE? DELTANS, WE WILL NEVER DEVELOP WHEN WE STILL ACCORD PRAISES AND RESPECT TO UNREPENTANT/UNREMORSEFUL EX AND SERVING PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS
Delta State problem is caused by Deltans…
How on earth are we going to develop as a people and a State, if this sort of absurdity not seen in other developed climes, is encouraged here without any iota of shame? …
Just because the people were given some ‘PEANUTS’ out of the stolen loot of these politicians, does that mean the people should forget their sense of reasoning? …
This culture of hailing the Government when they do what is expected of them, is the reason why these political leaders feel they are doing us a favour when they do something…
Ibori has shown no sort of remorse, or has repented from the financial atrocities he has committed against Delta State…
I am greatly saddened in my heart whenever I see the people of Delta State ‘ignorantly’ and ‘consciously’ think that the likes of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, are their messiahs, redeemers and the only people who should decide the progress of the State. Whereas, in actual fact, these people are the very ones whose past and current deeds and inclinations are greatly part of the reasons why Delta State have not been able to attain the desired development. And we will never develop and see any significant progress in the State if this status quo is sustained.
It is absolutely shameless to see the political propaganda show-off of James Ibori, and one wonders what exactly does he intend to achieve with it? Truth be told, Deltans are the very architect of their own misfortunes and underdevelopment as a State. As for Ibori he is a shameless and unrepentant politician who is not willing to change his lifestyle.
Every well-meaning Deltan should be greatly troubled when we see our people ignorantly and consciously get carried away easily by the likes of Ibori. These were my thoughts, with regard to a short video being circulated on social media, which was also reposted some time ago on Facebook with the caption note: “The moment Chief Onanefe Ibori, Chief Timipre Silver, His Excellency Dcn Kingsley Otuaro, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, stepped out to dance the IBORI DANCE as Chief Barrister Smooth thrills the crowd in Okpokunou Community, Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu LGA of Delta State.”
The show of shame and absurdity that was displayed and demonstrated in the said video, as Ibori was marching out and dancing with others listed, the musician and his band sang and kept on hailing Ibori, as the Odidigboigbo of Africa, and how “Ibori is a good leader.” You need to see the crowd and how they cheered, jeered, hailed with their hands lifted high, as they sang praises of Ibori and the others with him.
I could not help but wonder why Deltans are still ‘ignorantly and consciously according’ such praises, honour, respect and recognition to someone like Ibori, who had served about 4 years out of a 13-year sentence in Britain for massively stealing Delta State funds (meant for the development of the State and its people), with the active help of his former Executive cabinet while he was Governor from 29th May 1999 to 29th May 2007? What message are we sending to the younger generation and others when this is done publicly without shame? Are we not indirectly telling our younger generation that it is okay for them to steal public funds whenever they get the chance, and they will still be celebrated as heroes even if they go to prison? How on earth are we going to develop as a people and a State, if this sort of absurdity not seen in other developed climes, is encouraged here without any iota of shame?
Regardless of whatever Ibori and the others must have done in the said Okpokunou Community, are they not aware of the enormous amount that was stolen by Ibori from the State coffers, which the British Government is still trying to mercifully repatriate to Nigeria? Are they aware that if a quarter of what Ibori had stolen, were judiciously used to develop the Community and its environs, that the place would be like Dubai in Delta State? Just because the people were given some ‘PEANUTS’ out of the stolen loot of these politicians, which also belongs to the people, does that mean the people should forget their sense of reasoning? Even those that are still serving in Government, are they doing the masses a favour whenever they execute a project for the people? What then are they there in Government to do in the first place? This culture of hailing the government when they do what is expected of them, is the reason why these political leaders feel they are doing us a favour when they do something, and we all should “bow down" for them.
However, what is more worrisome is the fact that the person (Ibori) in question was sentenced to prison for stealing from the State’s treasury. So, why are they still praising and hailing such an individual, who apparently has shown no sort of remorse, or has repented from the financial atrocities he has committed against the State? But why would Ibori be remorseful or repent from what he has done, when the people themselves still see him as their hero? Even the others that were listed, who were dancing with Ibori, are all birds of the same feathers with Ibori. These are the kind of political leaders that our people are still singing their praises and hailing to continue in their anti-people footsteps. What a shame!
It is absolute shame that our people still ignorantly think and regard Ibori as the supposed ‘messiah’ and ‘savior’ and ‘de-factor-executive-governor’ of Delta State. The question is, are Deltans really willing to embrace development? Do we really want to develop as a people? Or do we want our State to remain grossly underdeveloped while other States across the country are making significant progress ahead of us? When will our ‘eyes of understanding be enlightened’ to realize that these same people, are the major problems we have in this State? Have we ever bothered to ask ourselves if this was how countries like the UK and US, developed in a state-of-ignorance? Why should such a man still be honoured and highly-regarded publicly, by the same people he stole their public money from? When is our people going to wake-up and grow-up from this ignorant state and outright stupidity?
Ibori himself, rather than show some sign of remorse for the harm he has caused on the State with his ‘stealing-acts’, and repent from his sins and lead a low-profile life; is still trotting about in public circles, showing off like one who is drunk with power and influence. However, I blame the people more for ‘ENCOURAGING HIS APPETITE.’ How would Nigeria develop with this kind of Political Class, Elites and even ‘blind followers’ that are evident in Delta State? With such things happening in the State, it paints a picture of ‘hopelessness’ and despair of future prospects for the general masses.
Until the people start publicly shaming and disgracing the likes of Ibori and others stated, they and those coming after them will continue in their current steps, which are detrimental to the growth of the State. Delta elites, politicians and locals like places like Dubai, Kuwait, Singapore, etc., but they still prefer to remain in darkness.
As written in the Holy Bible, “My people perish due to lack of knowledge” – that is the exact thing that is responsible for the level of ignorance evident amongst our people in Delta State. The development we so desire will never come by mere ‘wishful thinking’.
Zik Gbemre.
May 6, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes