Who is after Ibori? by Benedict Ahanonu
Prior to this time, I wanted to maintain a studied silence on this Ibori matter but the resolve was crushed by the weight of the judgment of history, which I conjecture will be too harsh on me for not speaking out.
I also felt the need to do so because I have the constitutional right and as a true patriot, it will be wrong to keep quiet in the face of the apparent return of the era of impunity and intimidation.
I have advocated support for the President because of some commendable actions he has taken. In fairness to him, he has really measured up to his responsibilities.
He has been able to ensure stability in the polity and Nigeria is in the international headlines for all the good reasons because of his political shrewdness.
Utilizing the opportunity of attending the World Nuclear Summit in the US recently, he engaged the unequivocal American political elite including President Barack Obama himself, in all-embracing bilateral negotiations. In the end, he was able to get the country's name deleted in the American list of terrorist countries. He also obtained assurances in other areas of vital interests.
Suddenly, Jonathan is no longer an unknown quantity in the international political arena and with this first foreign trip as Ag. President, Nigeria's global image that has been terribly smeared by a combination of bad governance, sectarian conflicts, corruption, nefarious activities of some Nigerians, lack of cohesion among the political elite and more, received some laundering.
Upon his return from the United States, he was confronted with a bewildering number of issues that came together to the crunch. Among such issues were the 2010 Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly and the imbroglio involving Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former governor of Delta State and the seemingly disoriented Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has a consistent track record of underperformance since its inception.
While the budgetary issue has been resolved after the President's initial rejection, the issue concerning James Ibori and the EFCC remains gridlocked and the President appears to be a pawn in the political battle.
Inasmuch as I stand against corruption in any form, and will never align myself with any corrupt person, I equally will not condone any attempt by anybody, to unduly infringe upon the fundamental human rights of a bona fide citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through any government agency.
To set the records straight, Chief James Ibori was arrested in 2007 on account of the170 charges by the EFCC, which were later on dismissed by an Asaba High Court and since then, Ibori did enjoy peace of mind until recently when the so-called 10 aggrieved elders of Delta State asked the EFCC Chairperson, Mrs. Farida Waziri, to make Ibori account for the alleged diversion of 528 million shares in Oceanic Bank, belonging to the state, during his tenure.
In a March 15 letter to the so-called elders, Mrs. Waziri claimed that the EFCC had started investigating the allegations against Ibori. Thereafter, the EFCC reportedly invited Ibori for questioning but he did not go because of reasons ranging from fear for his personal safety, to the fact that he has filed a lawsuit seeking for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights of liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement; and which actually came up for hearing on Monday 19th April 2010 at the Federal High Court, Asaba. After that day's proceedings at the High Court, the case was adjourned until April 28, 2010 but no sooner had the court risen than the President ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to arrest James Ibori and in pursuance of that order, a special squad, led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Udom Ekpoudom went after him. Unfortunately, they ran into an ambush as Ibori made a dramatic escape from his hideout in Oghara, Delta State.
So far, the dust raised by that incident, has yet to settle and Nigeria once again is at a logjam due to the antics of certain men of vaunting ambition and the inability of the President to handle the matter with tact.
The politics of political expediency requires actions that are quick and effective in a particular situation even if they are morally wrong; hence, such tenuous moment in the country is not good for any action that has the potential of triggering off a wide range of problems in an already overheated polity.
Just as to every rule there is an exception, there is a political solution to any situation. For instance, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former EFCC Chairman was declared wanted sometime ago by President Yar'Adua because of what was perceived by the government then as a campaign of calumny he was spearheading from abroad. Today, it has been reported that there are plans to drop all the charges against him, restore his pre-Yar'Adua police rank and even make him a presidential aspirant in this land of mugus.'
Now the question is this: why the haste to arrest James Ibori at all costs? It would be recalled that Chief James Ibori only opted to meet EFCC operatives in Asaba instead of Abuja according to reports. He did not refuse the invitation in its entirety; but the EFCC rejected his proposal, calling it a trap. I am quite surprised.
As a federal crime-fighting agency, the EFCC should have the capacity to interrogate and even detain suspects in any part of the country given that the agency collaborates with the federal police force.
Another question is this: why are citizens so afraid of responding to EFCC's invitations to Abuja?
When Senator Iyabo Obasanjo was declared wanted, owing to issues that related to financial impropriety, she disappeared for many days; citing fears for her safety as the reason and I am sure she reappeared after she was assured of it by the federal government agencies. However, one good thing that happened was that President Yar'Adua never ordered her arrest at all costs and never asked the IGP then to go after her with a crack squad.'
I am afraid that any further senseless crackdown on James Ibori may spark off a fresh wave of violence in the Niger Delta, which could wreck all the gains of the Amnesty Deal.
There is no doubt that James Ibori is the people's man and that he has a big following in Delta State. It has even been alleged that his recent EFCC's investigation brouhaha stemmed from the desire of some overbearing people to clip his wings. But why should it be so?
Some are suggesting that until people like Obasanjo, Babangida, Gowon, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Ernest Shonekan, Theophilus Danjuma etc get arrested, tried and sentenced accordingly for ruining what would have been a great nation, the dream of a resurgent, powerful Nigeria, will remain a mirage, and I concur with them.
Now, I have to talk to you Mr. President. Please do not be browbeaten. You must be your own man if you really want to succeed and do not make a mountain out of a molehill. Note that the key issues are, the Nigerian systemic failure; corruption, society of sacred cows surrounding you, effects of decades of misrule and mismanagement of the nation's resources, intractable power, poverty and hunger in the land, unemployment, flawed electoral process, unreasonable high cost of running the government at both state and federal levels, uncontrollable inflation, non-functioning refineries, inefficient Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), kidnapping, insecurity, poor budget implementation, dynastic rule, stage-managed EFCC, the political godfathers etc and not merely James Ibori. Please do get busy, as there is no time to lose.
Finally, I want to state that since the matter concerning James Ibori is already in court, the current unseen cabal' who are hell-bent on dislodging every vestige of President Yar'Adua's string of loyalties should please conjure up some decorum and allow the judicial process to run its course, in the interest of peace and progress.
As I said earlier, political expediency could well be a better option in the present situation.
Cheers!
Who is after Ibori? by Benedict Ahanonu
By: BENEDICT AHANONU
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