Lesson from conviction of James Ibori
By Emmanuel Udom
There is certainly a lesson to learn from the conviction of James Ibori, former governor of Delta state to a 13 –year jail term by Southwark Crown Court in London.
The lesson is simply that what we sow today, well or bad, we reap tomorrow, even with interests. This is one of the immutable laws of life. It operates, regardless of our educational, social, financial or cultural status in life. So, a wealthy man or woman and a pauper cannot escape this great lesson.
It is one of the many laws of God to humanity that is ultimately geared towards making mankind more illumined, knowledgeable, peaceful, and happy and a co-worker with God.
Yes, without exception, we must go through the daily tests, trials and tribulations of life. No man born of a woman can escape this. It is really our actions, inactions, attitude and mindset that will determine how, why we react to these temptations.
If we are placed in any position of service though whatever means, we must serve with honesty, constancy, transparency, sincerity and truthfully, knowing that what goes around eventually comes around.
Ibori, who escaped conviction in Nigeria, is to spend the next 13 years of his life in jail in the United Kingdom for fraud, totally $77million. Life is really a balancer. It shows us the reflection of our actions and inactions.
Some wealthy persons think rather erroneously that with money, they can manipulate the system in order to either get away from injustice meted out to the poor, corruption, criminal acts, or influence decisions in their favor.
Civilization began in Africa. These we as told. But, the stark reality is that the continent is still walloping in abject poverty. Ignorance, superstitions, illiteracy, poverty are very visible in Africa. We should blame ourselves and our leaders. A country certainly gets the kind of leaders it deserves at any point in time.
Ibori, as governor of the oil rich Delta state had all the opportunities in the world to deliver welfare, jobs, hospitals, schools and other social amenities to the people of the state. But, the facts as contained in the conviction reports show that instead, he cornered the financial and other resources of the state for his private use.
The great law of retribution, action and reaction, sowing and reaping as well as cause and effect, obviously came into effect to balance the equation. Today, he is in jail.
I pray he reflects on his private and public life while in Nigeria. The reflection, introspection, or soul searching will certainly serve as a stepping stone to becoming a better person, if well carried out with sincerity of purpose.
Sure, one day he will come out of jail. But, a life dedicated to truly, honestly, sincerely, and transparency serving God and humanity afterwards is my honest wish for him. Time, the great revealer will tell
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