HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A THOROUGH, HEAVILY CEREBRAL LEADER

Today, August 4, 2026, marks another glorious dawn in the life of a consummate politician, extraordinary philanthropist, business magnate and the Don of Resource Control, His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori.

HIS EXCELLENCY,

CHIEF JAMES ONANEFE IBORI

FORMER EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE

We thank God for blessing you with good health and sound mind. You deserve to be celebrated and honoured for your accomplishments and passionate commitment to the good of the country.

As governor, you brought succor and a sense of belonging to the good people of Delta State, improved the standard of governance, paved the way for the education of many Deltans abroad through scholarship and opened government to a wider social circle.

As a modernizer, you embarked on well thought-out projects covering every single community in the state. You built roads, bridges, houses, schools and hospitals.

In the economic realm, you promoted a strategy of rapid industrialization, grew the state’s economy and created wealth.

As a change agent, you improved the content of politics and the quality of the politicians in the state.

You used power with restraint and in accordance with the rule of law and traditional practices.

You distinguished yourself by introducing free qualitative education, restoring bursary award to all students of Delta State origin in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and tackling the issue of abandoned projects, particularly by contracting firms which absconded after collecting mobilization fees.

We look back, Your Excellency and see the triumph of your government that increased model secondary schools, rehabilitated all secondary and primary school buildings in the state, hospitals and healthcare centres, provided laboratory and medical equipment to all government hospitals, constructed cottage hospitals in the rural areas, invested heavily in sporting facilities and encouraged sportsmen and women morally and financially.

Indeed, your administration carefully identified with the needs of the good people of Delta State, doggedly contrived viable remedies to them,  returned peace to Warri, opened up the rural areas of the state through a network of roads, promoted hospitality, employed youths, developed agriculture, provided potable water and electricity, set up the Direct Labour Agency to undertake small road projects in the state, reinvigorated the Rural Development Agency, made civil service productive and attractive.

Higher institutions, dualization of major roads in the three senatorial districts, House of Assembly Complex, NTA Stations in Asaba and Sapele, Ughoton-Omadino, Igbuku (Ase River), Bomadi and Olomu bridges bear testimony to your purposeful and committed leadership

As a proponent of true federalism, you did not disappoint the people of the Niger Delta on the issue of resource ownership and control.

You championed the cause of the people in their demand for true fiscal federalism, injected blood into the South-South people, fired their nationalism and secured respect for them in the national scheme of things.

As an ardent nationalist, you developed human resources through collaborative efforts with both governments and global institutions, reduced youth restiveness, pulled the riverine people out of abject poverty and ushered them into a stupendous prosperity.

As an effective builder of peace, understanding and development, you shored up the economic base of Delta State through bilateral cooperation with friendly states.

You have been spreading the message of tolerance, accommodation and integration.

As a member of the family, you illuminated our lives, enlarged our spaces and encouraged us to dream great dreams of a brighter future.

We join millions of our country’s men and women as well as your admirers the world over to acknowledge your creative and purposeful leadership as well as your achievements in the fields of roads, hospitals, water and electricity supply, housing, education, industry and tourism.

Likewise, we commend your stupendous contribution to national politics and your commitment to enduring relationship based on love, peaceful co-existence and devotion to the ideals of justice, tolerance and fair play.

We also use this medium to register our gratitude for the wise counsel, guidance and rare commitment you have shown towards our progress.

We wish you good health, long life and God’s guidance as you continue to contribute to the development of our great country.

Once again, Congratulations on the occasion of your 68th birthday.

CHIEF EMMANUEL ORITSEJOLOMI UDUAGHAN, HIS DEAR WIFE, SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN AND THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ABIGBORODO