Outrage over celebration of Ibori’s release from prison

Some Nigerians have described as condemnable and unfortunate, the celebration of the release of James Ibori, former governor of Delta state, from a prison in London.

Ibori regained freedom on Wednesday.

He was jailed in 2012, two years after he was arrested by the Interpol in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

A Southwark Crown Court had sentenced him to 13 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 10-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.

In spite of his guilty plea and conviction for corruption, his kinsmen at Oghara and other Urhobo communities in the Delta, turned his freedom into a carnival, as they lined up major streets dancing.

Reacting to this, Augustine Igwe, a retired teacher, said it was unfortunate that some Nigerians celebrated criminals and those who contributed to the bad situation of the country.

“It’s a shame that we are celebrating those who had contributed the increased unemployment rate in the country, lack of healthcare services, dwindling standard of education and failed democracy among other challenges,” he told NAN.

“Until we start to change our ways and mindset, we will continue to wallow in our problems in the nation.”

Sesan Adeleye, a businessman, said such jubilation showed that politicians had successfully brainwashed some citizens with ill-gotten wealth.

“The problem of some Nigerians is a clear case of poverty of the mind. We value wealth so much. They are not even bothered about why he went to prison,” he said.

“They are already waiting for him to come back so that he can continue to distribute ill-gotten money to them.

“They don’t even care that the money stolen was meant for their welfare and development.”

Also, Edewede Iyamu, a private physician, said the celebration over Ibori’s release was uncalled for, as he also contributed to the pervasively poor and under developed state of the Niger Delta.

“Those from Niger Delta continue to blame the federal government for the challenges confronting their region, whereas, people like Ibori should be held responsible,” she said.

“It is sad that people from that region are now celebrating him.”

A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr Adekunle Aribisala, said something must be done to stop the celebration of criminality in the country as it was becoming rampant.

Aribisala also expressed worry that it would not be easy for the Western community to release the 18 million pounds, recovered from Ibori, to the Nigerian government.

“We had the same situation when Chief Bode George and Mr Hamza Al-Mustapha were released too, now it’s Ibori. I feel really ashamed as a Nigerian,” he said.

“We do not need people like that in our society any longer. They need to be isolated so they don’t corrupt more people.”

In her opinion, Aishe Jelil, a civil servant, said the future of the youth who were being used by politicians called for concern.

“We seem to have lost our values in this society, I wonder what the future holds for our future generations. They are celebrating Ibori because they consider him a hero and a role model,” she said.