The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has called on Deltans to celebrate former Governor James Onanefe Ibori for his contributions to the development of the state, saying his record should be assessed beyond political disagreements.
The Council made the call in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, and Acting Secretary, Comrade Josephine Omodior, to mark Ibori’s 68th birthday.
The NUJ described Ibori’s eight-year administration, which lasted from 1999 to 2007, as a significant chapter in Delta State’s political and developmental history.
According to the Council, one of the most notable legacies of the administration was its contribution to the growth of the state’s public service through large-scale recruitment exercises.
The NUJ recalled that thousands of young men and women were recruited into the Delta State Civil Service, particularly during the 2000 and 2001 recruitment exercises, while further recruitments were carried out in 2002 and 2006.
It said the exercises created employment opportunities, strengthened the state’s human resource base and provided many Deltans with stable livelihoods and professional careers.
The Council noted that the economic stability enjoyed by many civil servants during the period enabled workers to acquire land, build houses, purchase vehicles and provide better education for their children.
“Many of the beneficiaries of those recruitment exercises have now accumulated more than two decades of experience and risen to senior positions within the Delta State Public Service,” the Council said.
The NUJ also highlighted the Ibori administration’s investment in infrastructure, particularly the construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges, which it said helped connect communities, improve transportation and stimulate economic activities across the state.
It further acknowledged the attention given to the education and healthcare sectors, noting that successive administrations had built upon, expanded or modified several initiatives established during the Ibori years.
Beyond infrastructure and recruitment, the Council recalled that Ibori was regarded by many of his contemporaries as a leader who gave commissioners, advisers and other political appointees considerable room to exercise responsibility.
According to the NUJ, that leadership style encouraged initiative, ownership of assignments and professional development among officials entrusted with responsibilities during the administration.
The Council described the emergence of many of today’s senior public servants from the ranks of recruits employed during the early 2000s as one of the enduring legacies of the Ibori administration.
It, however, stressed that acknowledging Ibori’s contributions did not mean ignoring the controversies surrounding his public career.
Rather, the NUJ said, recognising his achievements was part of an objective appreciation of history, urging society to examine both the achievements and shortcomings of past leaders without unnecessary partisanship.
The Council therefore congratulated Ibori on attaining 68 years, wishing him good health, peace and fulfilment.
It urged Deltans and Nigerians to remember the contributions of public figures, assess their records objectively and allow history to provide a balanced account of their legacies.
