Ibori: AD Chief Cautions Politicians
By Oke Epia
Former gubernatorial aspirant in Delta State and frontline member of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Mr. Abel Edijala has sued for caution in the ongoing legal issue involving Governor James Ibori.
Edijala in a statement said the case of Ibori can not be an exception since 1999 Constitution presumes an accused to be innocent until proven otherwise.
Edijala expressed regrets that the governor may be distracted from doing his job, adding that "I pray he retains the right frame of mind to continue with his job of being the chief servant of the people of Delta State whom he swore on oath to serve."
He said, "Delta State, the rest of the country and indeed the civilized world are being taken for a ride. Is it not said that when two elephants fight, is the grass that suffers? Deltans are losing their sleep, peace, money and precious man-hour because the truth that should be told is deliberately being hidden. How can we, as a people continue like this? I sympathize with Ibori and empathize with Agbi and his co-traveller but I pity Delta State."
The entire saga he averred, presents a serious test case for the judiciary which he said is "caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," stating that "whatever decision the court comes up with now, it is very sure that heads must roll, this surely, is a very big test for our judicial process." He, however, advised that the process be allowed to run its full course and that no individual, no matter how highly placed should be allowed to blackmail judicial officers or offer inducements to derail the course of justice. He also called on the judiciary to speed up the case and dispense with the matter "justly and squarely so as to save the people of the state the trauma and disquietness they are currently passing through."
The AD chieftain also chided political enemies of the governor, who he said are already jubilating over the present situation and "are positioning themselves to take over his job," adding that "they are merely day-dreaming as it is very illusionary of them to think that they can step into Ibori's shoes when they are yet to even determine who the authentic AD governorship nominee in the State is."
He advised them to wait for their own time as "those elected should be given the room to prove themselves on service delivery to the people and I am certainly not one of those who wishes Ibori out of office if it is not so dictated by justice."
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