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Letters to the Editor

May, 2010
NigerianNews Letter to the Editor

May 03, 2010

“Ibori vs. EFCC: Standing Logic on its head!”

The Nigerian Guardian of April 30, 2010 on page 51 carried an article by Levi Obijiofor titled “Ibori: In hiding with a clear conscience?” In it Obijiofor argued that if Ibori is innocent of the charges being alleged by the EFCC, he should have been bold enough to come to the open court to declare his innocence to the whole world. That is the logical thing to do. But who says that things are always done in the logical way in Nigeria? Even the EFCC has come out openly to accuse the judicial system of not handling their cases logically, and so are calling for a special court or tribunal. If the EFCC is afraid of the logicality of the regular courts, why should Ibori not be?

Only those who want to play the ostrich will deny that the current effort by the EFCC to arraign Ibori on new found charges is nothing but political witch-hunting. Some who know the truth are aware that one very big man in Delta State, whose kith and kin are now in the corridors of power in Aso Rock, has vowed to destroy Ibori by all means. This same man maintained studied silence when his ethnic man was treated like a dog by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. His ethnic man was humiliated beyond measure for corrupt charges, and he never opened his mouth to condemn him. But he is crying to high heavens that Ibori be crucified. We are not surprised. Blood is thicker than water.

Nigerian politics is one of “I am loyal.” If you are not loyal to a godfather, when he assumes the reign of power, then you better run for your life. That is exactly what Ibori is doing. Since he was not loyal to the godfather who is on the throne now, he has to pay the price of political disloyalty. Don’t blame Ibori for running, for it is the man who runs that lives to fight another day!!!
Political vendetta is a common thing in Nigeria. Obasanjo used it in dealing with his perceived political enemies. We all knew it and saw it and condemned it. But that did not stop him from using it. Go and ask Atiku, Adenuga Jr. and Kalu and they will tell you more. He is not the only one who knows how to wield the stick of political vendetta. Obasanjo succeeded in tutoring some of his loyalists in that act. Some of them are now in power, baring their fangs. The politician who does not run for his dear life in the face of such political vendetta is looking for his political waterloo.

Those of us who are Ibori loyalists are not saying that he is a saint. Obijiofor is free to condemn the action of the Oghara people in fighting for Ibori because he is not from there. We in Delta State (not the ethnic chauvinists) know how Ibori turned Delta State around within eight years. When we sing the praise of Ibori, it is based on practical achievements. We are not saying that that is enough excuse for him to loot the Delta State treasury. However, we are bold to say that there are worst looters of government treasuries walking the streets of Abuja who are not facing the music of EFCC because they are “loyal.” We do not envy them. But please do not crucify us if we also try to protect our own from political vendetta. Leave Ibori alone!!!

Dr. David T. Ejenobo
Delta State University
Abraka.

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