WHY THE OKOWA PALACE COUP AGAINST IBORI SUCCEEDED

His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, is regarded as the national leader of Delta politics. During the time he served as Governor of Delta State from May 29, 1999 to May 29,2007 his administration holds the record for being the best the state has ever had.

Ibori built infrastructure, communities and Men. He ran a government that gave platform to deltans from all walks of life to contribute meaningfully to building a state that was economically prosperous.

BY VISION, HE SAW, HE CAME AND CONQUERED.

He is a visionary leader who made a lasting impact on the state, He showed himself as a leader who not only knew the way but also showed others the way.

Before James Ibori assumed office as Governor of Delta State in 1999, only a handful of individuals in the state were considered wealthy. These included notable names like the Ibrus, Odibo's, Edewor's, Sunny Odogwu, K.B. Omatseye, and the Dafinone's, among a few others. The next tier of financially comfortable individuals comprised employees of multinational corporations such as Shell, NNPC, DSC, and Chevron.

However, Ibori transformed this landscape. He opened up the political and economic space, empowered individuals, and elevated many who were nobody into billionaires, changing their stories for good.

 Among those whose fortunes changed under his leadership were Ifeanyi Okowa, Emmanuel Uduaghan, John Oguma, Michael Diden (Ejele), James Manager, Ighoyota Amori, Peter Nwaboshi, and Solomon Ogba, to mention but a few.

James Ibori governed Delta State at the same time his long-time friend, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who served as Governor of Lagos State(1999 to 2007). Both men were formidable political leaders in their respective states. However, a critical difference existed between them—while Tinubu maintained an iron grip on his political structure, dictating terms to those he empowered, Ibori, like a father was far more liberal. He allowed his protégés the freedom to exercise their authority and grow independently.

This liberal approach, however, proved to be Ibori’s undoing, as some of his closest allies took his magnanimity for granted. 

A prime example was former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s attempt to install the late Tony Obuh as his successor without consulting Ibori, the undisputed political leader of Delta State. 

At the time, Ibori strongly believed that Ifeanyi Okowa was the most qualified candidate based on his competence, capacity, experience, and political acumen. Ultimately, Okowa emerged as governor, but in an ironic twist, he(Okowa) would later orchestrate a political coup against Ibori himself.

James Ibori underestimated Okowa, seeing him as godly, humble, and loyal. However, beneath Okowa’s outward demeanor lay a shrewd and calculating politician who like the fallen Angel Lucifer, skillfully manipulated religious sentiments to achieve his ambitions.

Seen to many as a saint, Okowa is the father of manipulations with a wicked and unforgiving heart like that of PHARAOH and NEBUCHADNEZZAR.

Okowa meticulously plotted his political takeover(coup) for years, beginning with the impeachment of Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya, then Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and a staunch Ibori loyalist.

Chief Ighoyota Amori warned Ibori of the dangers ahead, urging him to resist Igbuya’s removal. Had Ibori insisted on his reinstatement, it would have sent a strong message to Okowa that he was not in control. However, Ibori ignored these warnings, allowing Okowa to gain momentum and in the process sacrificed Igbuya.

Further cementing his grip on power, Okowa maneuvered the party congress in his favor. The party chairmanship was zoned to Delta Central, yet Ibori failed to assert control over his district as advised by Amori and others, leaving Okowa to dominate Delta North while Emmanuel Uduaghan and James Manager shared influence over Delta South as the practice has been since 1999. This was a sharp contrast to 2015, when the party chairmanship was zoned to Delta North. At the time, Governor Uduaghan attempted to install Tony Nwaka, but Okowa like Corah, Dathan and Abiram lead a rebellion and resisted fiercely against Uduaghan's Choice. Okowa in his rebellion rallied Delta North leaders against Uduaghan and successfully install Peter Nwaboshi as PDP chairman.

Ibori’s unwillingness to impose control over the political structure led to his gradual loss of influence in Delta politics. A stark comparison can be drawn with recent events in Lagos State, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is known in many quarters to have orchestrated the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. However, President Bola Tinubu intervened, insisting on Obasa’s reinstatement. Had Ibori exhibited similar resolve in Delta, Okowa’s coup might never have succeeded.

Okowa, driven by an insatiable thirst for power and wealth, dismantled the once-unified Delta political family led by Ibori; which was the envy of other states.

 Okowa's ultimate political maneuver was installing his stooge; an undocumented illiterate not even fit to be a primary school teacher as his successor.

Yet, the critical question remains—has Delta State truly fared better under this new leadership? 

Some may applaud Sheriff Oborevwori’s flyover projects, but what is his scorecard in other social indices especially those that pertains to human capital development. Is the state more secured now, are the youths finding jobs after graduation or it is still the same the pattern of after Graduation the available job is driving Keke. More importantly how is the fairing on Human capital development index.

Governance extends beyond infrastructure. Awarding construction contracts is not rocket science; true leadership encompasses vision, strategic governance, and the collective welfare of the people.