The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has called for the celebration of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, for his contributions to the development of the state.
The Council made the call in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, and Acting Secretary, Comrade Josephine Omodior, and made available to journalists.
The statement congratulated Ibori on his 68th birthday, describing his eight-year administration from 1999 to 2007 as an important period in the political and developmental history of Delta State.
According to the NUJ, Ibori’s legacy should be assessed beyond political disagreements, with attention paid to his contributions to the growth of the state’s public service.
The Council recalled that thousands of young men and women were recruited into the Delta State Civil Service during his administration, particularly between 2000 and 2001.
It said further recruitment exercises in 2002 and 2006 increased the number of workers in the state’s public service, creating employment opportunities and strengthening the state’s human resource base.
The NUJ said the recruitment exercises gave many Deltans stable jobs, professional careers and the opportunity to support their families and make long-term investments.
It added that many civil servants during the period had greater economic confidence, enabling them to acquire land, build houses, buy vehicles and provide education for their children.
The Council also acknowledged the administration’s investments in infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, which it said helped connect communities, improve transportation and support economic activities across the state.
It noted that education and healthcare also received attention during the period, adding that subsequent administrations had built on, expanded or modified some of the initiatives introduced during the Ibori years.
The NUJ further recalled that Ibori was regarded by many of his contemporaries as a leader who gave commissioners, advisers and other political appointees considerable room to carry out their responsibilities.
According to the Council, this approach encouraged initiative, responsibility and professional development among government officials who served during the administration.
The statement identified the emergence of many senior public servants from among those recruited in the early 2000s as one of the enduring legacies of the Ibori administration.
It said many beneficiaries of the recruitment exercises had accumulated more than two decades of experience and risen to senior positions in the Delta State Public Service.
The NUJ stressed that acknowledging Ibori’s positive contributions did not mean ignoring the controversies surrounding his public career, but was part of an objective assessment of history.
The Council therefore celebrated Ibori at 68, wishing him good health, peace and fulfilment, while urging the public to remember his achievements, examine his shortcomings objectively and avoid unnecessary partisanship.
The NUJ said society should be willing to recognise positive contributions wherever they exist, regardless of political differences.
