Prominent gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Delta State, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, FNIM, OON, has promised to make industrialization a priority if elected governor of the state in the 2023 general elections.
The largest private investor in the state assured that Delta would become a producing state as against the status of consumers as it is today.
The former minister of State for education, also gave an assurance that if elected governor of the state he would ensure the immediate revival of the moribund Delta Steel Company and other ailing industries across the state.
Olorogun Gbagi, the erstwhile chairman, Delta Property Development Authority (DDPA) who gave the promise while speaking on Thursday October 27th 2022, at the Annual Good Governance Lecture”, organized by Justice, Development and Peace Commission in the Catholic Diocese of Warri, with the theme: “Democracy and Effective Systems: Contradictions of our current State and Pathway to our prosperity, after receiving an award of recognition for his contributions to nation building and the Church, he further stated that no state could make meaningful progress without industrialization.
The renowned Criminologist explained that if given the mandate to be the governor of the state, his administration would revive the moribund industry and make DSC a priority in order to make Delta an industrial hub.
He pointed out that the revival of Delta Steel Company would create employment opportunities to the teeming youths and other professionals and thereafter remove the youths from street.
Gbagi recalled that in Oghara, Sapele and Warri, there were over 100 liability companies that were internationally recognized and competing favourably with their counterparts elsewhere across the globe.
He noted that this is exactly what his administration will do to put Delta Steel Company in the right footing as part of his determination to kick start the process of industrialization in the state
The Social Democratic Party standard bearer stated that he is contesting for governor to eradicate poverty in the land.
He emphasized that his administration will as well ensure the creation of jobs to remove youths out the streets.
According to him, “I know nothing order than industry and business, before now you have no less 47 Limited Liability Companies that can compete favourably with other world class industries.
“The first major company in this area, was in Oghara, Mobile. It was the biggest oil company that has headquarters in Oghara, and that provided employment and food.
“You have the Nigerian Salt Company, in Oghara, which produced all the salt that we used in the military and from all these area down to the north.
“You had Pamo, in that same axis that was internationalized company that produced robber and employment for our people, they travel all over the world.
“You have Limca, Unoca Motors. You go to Sapele, you have Top Feeds, Eternet, Floor Mills, Sapele Atlantic Club not to talk about DSC, that distinguished Senator Brume attracted to Delta State. From 1999, to date, we have gone from bad to worst”, he regretted.
Continuing he said: “From Oghara to Jesse Junction, there were over nine Liability Limited Companies that were internationally recognized all over the world.
“Coming to Sapele, there are over 22 Limited Companies that are recognized worldwide. All of these companies and areas are dead. Delta State was more important and better in industrialization and in business than Lagos.
“One of the major reasons why these companies left and they are dead today, is because of lack of character and integrity in governance because investors all over the world will come to a place where they see as safe and secure.
“Because of this, Shell pulled out of Delta State to another South-south State. They saw character and integrity there, they did not see it here, Delta State is fatherless just as it is motherless. The way Delta State was structured, character was the basis.
“What do we need to do sir? Is to bring back our industries. Is to bring back the glory of what Delta State stood for. Shell, has started talking to me that they will come back to Delta State if i am elected the governor of Delta State as a man they can trust to guarantee their safety.
“Why? Because they know that nobody can get me to do what is wrong no matter how juicy the deal is.
“The solution for Delta State, is to emancipate all our youths from the street. From day one, I will create database in all the LGAs to register all our unemployed youths and I will start paying them N30, 000 each.
“In the computarization of your membership as a youth who is not employed, they would have told me what they want to do, within the maximum period of three months, the payment will stop and I would have given them a job in their skills.
“Once all those youths are engaged, it is a win-win situation and your economy would have started rolling. If 92 per cent of your citizenry are gainfully engaged, you are done”, maintaining that unless we emancipate and remove all our youths from the street, catastrophy of the like of ENDSARS would take us all and there will be nowhere to run to.
The SDP governorship candidate, Olorogun Gbagi, OON, who is also the chairman of the Campaign Council was accompanied by the party’s South-south Vice Chairman, Elder Fred Owhotorofa, the Deputy governorship candidate, Chief Mrs Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary, who equally doubles as the Deputy Chairman, Director General of the Campaign Council, Prof. Jiff Mokobia, Director of Communications, Mr. Austine Kpoma, Director of Research and Policy, Prof. A. Atubi.
Others in his entourage are, Mr. Dan Siloko, Director, Security and Protocol, Mrs. Amaka Nwosu, Director of Legal, Deputy Director of Finance, Mr. George Onyidu, Deputy Director Delta North, Mr. Mike Dugbo, Deputy Director, Delta Central and Mr. Clint Amor, Deputy Director, Delta South among other members of the Campaign Council, party members and teeming supporters.
