Ahead of the 2023 governorship election in Delta State, a Christian group known as Christian Organization for Good Governance, has called on Deltans to vote for the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, saying he has shown enough commitment to develop the State judging from his private business life.
Convener of the group, Rev. Fr. Jesuovie Ogagakpodia, Archbishop Goddowell Avwomakpa, Archbishop Solomon Gbakara, Primate Jonathan Arhawanrien, Bishop Dr. Jude Akhere, Rev. Goodwill Adogho and many others made the call during a Thanksgiving Service organized by the group at the Oginibo country home of Olorogun Gbagi, in Ughelli south local government area of the state recently.
The clerics in their separate remarks said the man who must be governor of the state come 2023 must possess leadership qualities, styles and impeccable character that differentiates him from others who are in the governorship race.
They insisted that such a person must know what is right and wrong, respect religious societies both Christians and Muslims, must be compassionate and discipline, have integrity, must be clean, must not be a membership of any cult group, if they are members of any secret cult, we cannot give them our votes.
Speaking further, the gospel preachers maintained that such a person must not be fanatic with his or her religion, must be willing to admit the simplicity of different religions, must have the virtues of competence.
They noted that such a man must have good education sufficient enough to manage the complicity of our society, must have effective skills and abilities to manage resources, must have capacity and must be physically fit enough to govern the state.
They established that such a governorship candidate must have policies and programmes that are not antagonistic on any religious group, must allow the fundamental rights if Nigerians, must encourage equitable sharing formula and must say no to open grazing across our communities.
Also, Bishop Asakuku, charged Gbagi to have the love of the State at heart, saying, “you will do better when you carry the needs of the people on your shoulders”.
Another speaker, Ven. John Okiti, appealed the industrialist to fulfill his industrialization policy for the youths across the state, “We need to see real progress, we all know that industries are lacking in Delta State. Those that have been coming are telling us they will do this and that at the end they failed us. We want to see industry if you are there by the grace of God, let the live extend to the people in the grassroot..
“Have the fear of God and every other thing will be given to you.
One of things I want to beg you for, is security which is your area. Be compassionate to the ordinary one so that as soon as the person comes to you he will be rest assured that his or her case is settled”, he said.
The clergymen agreed that the former minister of State for education and largest private investor in the state, has the aforementioned qualities just as they called on Deltans to massively support his aspiration come 2023.
