James Ibori: A Thief Is A Thief and A Bad Person

Stealing is a crime of opportunity. Many people will steal given the opportunity, especially in a country where there are no consequences for bad actions.

I am not a lawyer but I look forward to legal arguments that will show that stealing in public office involves MORAL TURPITUDE. Why? Stealing millions and billions is a base and vile act. It involves the intent to steal as an element. That element is; intentional or reckless infliction of harm to persons or property.

To love and embrace a thief of public goods is to aid and abet deprivation, want, dispossession, poverty and disease. Lack of good roads, epileptic electricity, bad and ill-equipped hospitals, comatose education system, decaying military e.t.c 80% of the reasons behind Nigeria's underdevelopment can be traced to stealing and conversion of monies meant for infrastructure and development. The rest to incompetence and cronyism. When you celebrate your thief, you are celebrating poverty, oppression, transgression and underdevelopment. We cannot wallow in sin and expect to reap God's Infinite Grace. (Bamidele Ademola-Olateju)

This is why the kleptocracy endures in Nigeria. A thieving politician, James Ibori, former governor of Delta State in Nigeria where I hail from. An oil rich state for that matter, he was charged in a British court in England and sentenced to jail for bribery and corruption to the tune of millions of dollars. Here are Nigerians in England celebrating his release from prison. The same man who stole from them. Perhaps the kleptocracy have earned a right to steal from the people who rejoice for their thievery. (Chinazor Onianwah)