Former Delta State governor and ex-convict James Ibori has insisted he was innocent of the charges to which he pleaded guilty and for which he was convicted in the UK.
The ex-convict stated this in Oghara, venue of the thanksgiving service allegedly funded by the Delta State government.
Speaking largely in Urhobo, he said: “Today I have decided to speak for myself, I am not a thief, I cannot be a thief. Today is the day they say I should give testimony to God, for those that know me, you know that my entire life is a testimony itself and I have said it over and over again that my life is fashioned by God, directed by God, sealed, acknowledged, blessed by God and I believe that since the day I was born.”
The former governor claimed that while in prison, he missed the people of the state, adding that his return to the country was made possible by their support and solidarity.
“If I am to give testimony of my journey, you will not leave here. The only testimony that I have is the fact that I am back and alive in your midst. And again I say that I never had any doubt in my mind that I would get back home.
“Urhobo adage says it is in the river that changes clothes. It’s in the river I changed my cloth. When I looked how things were going, I discovered that they want to separate me from you people,” Mr. Ibori said.
Governor Okowa was, however, conspicuous by his absence from the service. It was learnt that he shunned the event, following stinging criticism of the N350 million he approved to welcome Mr. Ibori.
