Posted by By Emma Amaize & Emma Arubi on
WARRI - GOVERNOR James Ibori of Delta State, yesterday, said he had forgiven his chief opponent in the 2003 gubernatorial elections.....
WARRI - GOVERNOR James Ibori of Delta State, yesterday, said he had forgiven his chief opponent in the 2003 gubernatorial elections, Chief Great Ogboru of the Alliance of Democracy (AD) who instituted a record 16 cases against him challenging his victory in the elections, as well as all others who allegedly blackmailed and gave false evidence against him in the courts while the matter was on.
Speaking at his country home, Oghara in Delta State, where a thanksgiving service and celebration was held for the multiple legal victories, Chief Ibori said he would be nailing the truth on the head if he said he had not learnt any lesson with the celebrated ex-convict trial, rejoicing that he came out of it stronger and wiser.
He, however, said he was shocked at the length people could go to manufacture fake evidence against somebody, all in the bid to dethrone the person from power, adding that he bore no more grudges against all of them that testified that he gave bribe when he gave none; those that said he was a contractor when he was not; and those that averred that he gave bribe to people he did not make any financial inducement to.
Specifically, Governor Ibori said the ex-convict case was an eye-opener to him and that at a stage, he was marvelled at how some otherwise educated persons were making uninformed comments on the matter, as well as leaving the substance to pursue shadow.
He asserted that even when some close friends begun to express doubts because of the way the matter was going, his legal team was never disappointed and that gave him abundant hope.
Governor Ibori who called out the state's Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Amos Utuama and members of the legal team for a special ovation, recalled that a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Nduka Irabor and two serving members, Mrs. Almona Isei and Mr. H. Agoda had to go to the Gwari Court in Abuja to verify the tales being spurned from the court.
Chief Ibori said the sermon delivered at the occasion was very apposite on power as it belongs to God and there was nothing anybody not crowned by God could do to pull down the person crowned in order to put it on his own head, except the Almighty approved of it.