It was a fiesta of endorsement as the people of Ophorigbala, Esaba Ihwrogun, Otutuama and Otitiri communities of Ughievwen kingdom in Ughelli south local government area of Delta State, threw their weights behind the gubernatorial bid of Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, FNIM, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the 2023 general election.
The people in their thousands said that their decisions to endorse the the greatest patriot of Urhobo nation and by extension, Delta State and a renowned businessman for the governorship race, was informed by Olorogun Gbagi’s developmental track records in the state.
They said the former minister of State for education, when he assumes office as governor come 2023, would redirect the state and the people developmentally.
They stated that the Social Democratic Party guber standard bearer has no doubt brought unprecedented strides to the state, during his days as minister hence, the need for Deltans to identify with him.
The assurance was given on Monday October 3rd 2022, at the Oginibo country home of the famous Criminologist by the various speakers of the five communities of Ughievwen kingdom, Jaku Vava, who doubles as the the Unit Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in Ophorigbala and Dennis Lakpa, from Ihwrogun Community respectively.
According to Vava: “No indigene of Ughievwen, will vote for any other candidate apart from Gbagi.
“The entire Ughievwen kingdom, is with you, we are behind you. We have been deceived for too long. They promised that they will construct our road, till date, we didn’t see any construction work. We are suffering in our communities”, he lamented.
Also, Lakpa, who commended the largest private industrialist for what he has been doing for Ughievwen kingdom, noted that if he could do the things he is currently doing with his hard earn money, he would do more for the state with the enormous resources accruing to the state.
‘First, we are are here to thank you for the things we have seen with our eyes through you in our community. We were told that they will construct our road, we waited, we didn’t see anything.
“Two years later, same news came again. Only for us to be informed that you are the one who voted your own money for the construction of the road. Our fathers told us that you, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, who budgeted your own money for the contract.
“We are happy, when we heard that you are vying for the governorship, the entire youths, women, girls and men came together that the man who made us to see hope in our land, is the one we will work and vote for.
“We have also seen that the construction of the road has gone far, whatever has a begining, must have an end. We know that what is more important to us right now, the road and many other things you have started doing, you will complete them.
“We know that you are not a selfish man, because whatever developmental agenda you have, we will all benefit from it. By the special grace of God, you are there already. And that is the reason we have decided that this your ambition, is ours.
“We are also here to inform you that the love which you have displayed towards us, we have same love for you. You will testify at the end of the election that we truly love you.
“We are behind you. Wherever you are going, that is where we are going too”, he added.
The communities vowed to ensure the emergence of Gbagi of SDP as the next Governor of the state in the March 11th Governorship election.
Both communities berated the incumbent Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for neglecting them, noting that the last time they felt government impact was during the tenure of Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
“We want to thank you, Olorogun for always having the development of our communities and people at heart and we promised that our people will pay back with massive votes at the poll,” they stated.
