The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has condemned in strong terms, the payment of N50M as pension to the ex-governor of Delta State cum serial convict, James Onanefe Ibori by the Delta State government.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Debo Adeniran, noted that paying James Ibori pension is rewarding corruption and encouraging its perpetrators.
“It is very disheartening that Delta State government could pay a common criminal like Ibori monthly pension. What is the essence of the payment? To compensate him for bleeding Delta State coffers white during his tenure? Or is he being paid for rendering many hapless and helpless Deltans useless and worthless in his reign? Ibori has been convicted of a fraction of the crimes he committed while in power, and will definitely come back to face the wrath of the Nigerian Law after he might have ended his jail term in the United Kingdom, so he should be deemed to have been dismissed from office and therefore, not entitled to pension.
It is preposterous on the part of the present crop of people in power in Delta State to have included Ibori in the pension payments. Such a move will further encourage corruption among political office holders when many Nigerians are working frantically to reduce corruption to the barest minimum,”Adeniran submitted.
He also urged the anti-graft agencies to be on the look out because such unwarranted payment is capable of deepening corruption in the country and hardening its perpetrators, since they know that respite awaits them even if they get caught after leaving office.
Abimbola Adegoke
Media Officer
21 December, 2012