The organizers of Chief James Ibori's freedom thanksgiving service have deflated media reports making rounds in some quarters that the Delta State Government is bankrolling the ceremony slated for Sunday, February 12 with the whopping sum of N350 million.
Publicity Secretary of the Ibori's Freedom Thanksgiving Committee, Chief Henry Ofa described the report as false and a deliberate attempt to malign Ibori and drag Governor Ifeanyi Okowa into the murky water of corruption.
Recall that an online news report credited to Sahara Reporters had claimed that Okowa dolled out N350 million to float a lavish thanksgiving ceremony and welcome party for Ibori, in whose government he had served as a health Commissioner.
The report alleged that the gesture was in acknowledgement of the huge support Okowa had enjoyed from his former boss, including supporting his governorship aspiration in 2015.
But Ofa, who reacted to the report in Oghara yesterday, wondered why "some people would just sit in their offices and cook up claims that are false, spurious and malicious", insisting that "there is nothing like that and the state government has no role to play in the event".
"I laughed when I read the report. Who received the N350 million? To be specific, the entire process of the thanksgiving service costs less than N3 million and the whole fund is being sourced internally.
"It is neither being funded by the state government nor Ibori, it is the community members who are sponsoring the thanksgiving service.
"There is no arrangement for an after service reception. So, for anyone to cook up such cheap lies, I think it is most unfortunate", the former DESOPADEC Commissioner told our correspondent.
He described proponents of the report as "those whose only stock in trade is to pull others down", noting that the claim is another failed attempt of the "enemies" to undermine the celebration of Ibori's regained freedom.
Also reacting to the report, Chief Emmanuel Ighomena, Chairman of the thanksgiving committee roared at the online medium, regretting that "for the first time, I have a cogent reason to say Sahara Reporters are not credible".
Ighomena who spoke with our correspondent at Oghara observed that a large amount of money is not needed to appreciate God, noting that the strength of the celebrating former governor lies with the support he enjoys from the masses.
He said: "We chose to celebrate him and thank God for keeping him alive, but people from other kingdoms have also shown interests in the thanksgiving service because they believe Ibori is not only an Oghara man.
"This is the first ceremony I have seen that people are willing to attend without being invited. We don't need millions of Naira to thank God, the event is not about food but about God's word.
"The whole event shows that Ibori's name alone pulls a large crowd. The peasants and ordinary men are Ibori's supporters; everyone is following him and that is the strength of the man".
He called on the media to embrace, facts, objectivity and balance in their reportage so as retain public trust.
Meanwhile, all plans are currently in place to ensure that thanksgiving service billed for tomorrow is hitch free.
Ighomena told our correspondent that all sub committees in charge of various segments of the event are now ready.
The event which will hold at the First Baptist Church, Ogharefe, commences at 10:00am prompt.
No official invitation has been sent to the friends and political allies of Ibori, but observation show that prominent personalities, including all monarchs in Delta State will show physical presence at the event.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has come down hard on the All Progressives Congress (APC) over claims that it is taking over the state. Chairman of the PDP in Ethiope West, Hon. Onome Ojo described the claim as false and one of the mere wishes of the APC
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