- Safiu Kehinde
Former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, has again come under spotlight as Nigerians reminded him of his past over his remark after donating N100 million to Okada University, Edo State.
As captured in a now viral video shared on X on Friday, Ibori had donated the money to the institution at the public presentation of the biography of its founder, Gabriel Igbinedion.
Speaking at the event held on Thursday in Abuja, the ex-governor expressed his desire to contribute more than the amount but blamed the economic situation for his inability to do so.
“For the Chair in the Economy Department, I want to put a very bigger sum.
“As I said, if it were not for the economic situation, I would do the best that I can to promote this university.
“So, Mr. VC for the Chair, I will donate N50 million. And for the Directorate, another N50 million.” Ibori had said.
His mention of the economic situation of the country had triggered netizens who dug up Ibori’s past.
The ex-convict who served as Delta State Governor from 1999 to 2007 was renown for his infamous money laundering and corruption scandal which saw him bag 13 years imprisonment in the United Kingdom.
He however spent four years in prison before being deported to Nigeria in 2016.
Ibori’s reference to the economic situation of the country at yesterday’s event appeared to placed him on another round of online trial as netizens slammed and trolled the ex-governor.
While others questioned his source of income to have seen him make such huge donation, some of netizens backed Ibori, claiming that he remains loved in Delta State.
“A convict in the UK with money laundry criminal record is a celebrated public figure in Nigeria. He will soon have access to our resources and restart his criminality as we tend to extol such individuals”@Emakaibe1
“Chief looter of Nigeria say economy is bad 🤣🤣”@Ansem_edet
“What does he do for a living please?”@AjueyitsiT
“How he take get that kind big money
Which business he dey do after prison
Where is he getting his funds ? This questions needs to be answered”@AkposJim
“He looted sure but what he built in Delta state during his tenor, none of his predecessor has been able to outperform him in terms of governance. There’s a reason his people still love him despite his conviction.”@Alexxitonuero
“From prison to donating 100m. Nigerian political class are the most wealthiest on earth”@Phemmydeji
“Ex convict. You will never see them donate such amount to the welfare of the common man, schools or hospital development. Ndi uchu”@PearlyBold
“Returns of stolen money while as governor… They all know the economy is bad but they are all celebrating Tinubu each market day!”@blessed_ifenna
“Another reason naija is a mess… openly associating with convicted criminals won’t discourage looting. Stolen funds that’s meant for all you are doing yanga and donating.”@dejavu213
“What does he do for a living now? When a business man says the economy is bad, I can clearly understand but these guys? I taya sha”@Ejimo4for
“If we were in a good country, ex-inmates would be monitored closely, not moving around freely like nothing happened.”@Opraf59
“These guys really finished Nigeria. James Onye Iberibe, a thief and an ex-convict who forfeited millions of pounds and dollars still has 100 million naira to donate.”@Naijatica