Jubilation in Asaba over Ibori’s release

Asaba, the capital of Delta State  was literally paralyzed on Wednesday in jubilation over the release of the Ex-Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori from prison.

as expectedly, the news of his release from London Prison where he had served 10 years jail term for money laundry and others, filtered into Asaba and its environs in the early hours when various Asaba youths rolled out their drums to celebrate the man they described as “Ibori, Odidigborigbo” and Delta Strong man in politics.

The youths sang in Asaba- Igbo songs along Nnebisi Road, Summit Junction, Okpanam Road and Anwai Road where they danced freely  thereby causing serious traffic grid lock.

Security agents and the popular Ogbeogonogo Market Women were not left out in the jubilation  as many of them sang to the glory of God.

One of the market women, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi, who spoke to our reporter said “we are grateful to God for his mercies, Ibori is a man and a great man, we are very happy for him.”

In Government House , there was a beehive of jubilation among civil servants and government appointees who openly bared their minds on how he (Chief James Ibori) developed the state.

Palmer Osakwe, a civil Servant told our reporter, “Ibori is a great man, he developed the state, indeed, we want him pardoned by Federal Government, He is a man.”

A lawyer in Asaba, Barr Lawrence Egodike, however, appealed to federal government to grant the former governor,  a State pardon, adding that he contributed immensely to the development of the state.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Peter Mrakpor, who spoke to journalists in Asaba, described Ibori’s release as a welcome development adding that his contributions to the nation building cannot be over emphasized.

His words: “I’m particularly grateful and hope that the federal government would grant him a state pardon.”