£4.2m Ibori Loot: Return Deltans’ Monies, Or Else…- Deltans Warn FG
By Efa Sunday

‘It is unfair, unjust and an act capable of disintegrating the Nigeria nation, for the Federal Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari to lay claims to the monies belonging to the good people of Delta State.


‘‘Monies from the North belong to the Northerners, but monies made from the South belong to everybody. No more shall this be allowed, return Delta State monies or be ready to face insurrection.’’


Wednesday 24th of March, 2021, saw a cluster of aggrieved youth under the aegis of No Sidon Look, as they trooped in solidarity, bearing their grievances to the site of the Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat, in Asaba, obstructing the free flow of traffic.


Recall that recently, the British government agreed to return to the Nigerian government a whooping sum of £4.2million, as part of former Governor James Ibori’s looted funds. However, Nigerian government has begun laying claims to the money, proposing that the said sum ‘‘ would be used for the construction of the second Niger bridge, Abuja-Kano road and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.’’


However, this supposed ‘national interest’ proposal does not seem to go down well on many, if not all Deltans, as they protested in disagreement, complaining of undue marginalization, and categorically stating that ‘‘the money belongs to deltans and should be returned to deltans in full.’’


Although, the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa refused to speak to the crowd, seeing he was in company of his counterparts from Zamfara and Sokoto states; Governors Bello Matawalle and Aminu Tambuwal, during the commissioning of Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat in Asaba.


However, Governor Okowa while speaking during a live interview session with Seun Okinbaloye of ‘Politics Today,’ on Channels TV same day stated that the ‘‘protest is in order,’’ adding that ‘‘the State Government is equally planning a mega protest to the Federal Government, if they (FG) refuse to tow the path of peace.

Meanwhile, speaking earlier at the protest ground, the Director General of No Sidon Look Movement and leader of the group Mr. Portrait Peterson, stated; ‘‘we (deltans) would not allow federal government to use delta state money to initiate or complete any project that has no link with Delta State.

Accusing Governor Okowa of conniving with the Federal Government, Mr. Peterson said, "this may not be far from the truth, as the body language and slow pace of the governor on this matter seem as one who has already signed an MoU with the FG.''

Continuing he said, ‘‘Similar cases of repatriated funds from foreign governments have been returned by federal governments to Bayelsa and Plateau states in the past, the case of Delta State would not be different.

‘‘We deltans choose the path of peace, not because we are weak or timid but because we have not fully recovered from the inter-ethnic crisis of few years back, that ensued between the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo people.

‘‘Let it be known to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) that their plan to use monies belonging to Delta states to develop other regions or states is a mission dead before arrival, as we would not keep quiet and watch that happen.’’

Meanwhile, Mr. Peterson called on deltans not to relent in their pursuit of the state’s wealth, adding that the organization (No Sidon Look) would do everything within its power to ensure that the matter is followed until the end and the state’s wealth is returned home to the masses.

R

You people deserve what you got oo, you guys hosted party for a criminal who came out of jail, celebrated him and called his corruption charges a witch hunt.... Una never see anything. Though is wrong for FG to hold on to that money but it's a lesson for you guys to stop celebrating failed and corrupt politicians

Politicians don send those stupid jobless masses to fight and bring the money for them to loot... Nigeriaans are willing tools in the hands of politicians I swear