Anything short of His Excellency, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), not to be elected as the next governor of Delta State, will cause the state a great disaster and disservice.
It is worthy of note that SDP candidates particularly the governorship contest, has no competitors or rivals in the coming 2023 governorship election.
Deltans are advised to queue behind the former minister of state for education, whom many have described as the “best man”, for the job.
Gbagi, is an accomplished businessman and the first black man in the world to become an AKS member of Rotary International. By this singular reason, he has put an end to Polio in the State.
He did not join the governorship race for what he will gain but for the sake of the present generation and the generations yet unborn.
Few days to the much talked about gubernatorial election, youth groups, women bodies, political parties including Churches, have endorsed Gbagi, who is the centre of attraction.
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege, had described Gbagi, as an enigma. That is to say without mincing words, Omo-Agege who was on April 18, 2018, was arrested by the police in Abuja, for purportedly leading armed thugs to snatch and seize the “Mace of the Senate”, recognized Gbagi as the first Ughelli south politician, industrialist, philanthropist to get the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) National Award from president Muhammadu Buhari.
Sheriff Oborevwori, the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), calls Gbagi, a renowned Criminologist, an “Uncle”, haven sheltered Oborevwori’s mother on the land where Signatious Hotel now stands.
Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, did no less. He calls Gbagi Uncle “K” because Gbagi, was the one that brought Ogboru from exile when he was afraid to return home. Ogboru lived in Gbagi’s house on return to Nigeria, Gbagi, bought him a car.
What about the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Ken Pela, it was same Gbagi, who released him from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), over alleged theft involving Oginibo Community Microfinance bank.
When this news filtered into town, Gbagi was accused of spreading fake news. However, Gbagi, was vindicated when a body of professionals of Delta state origin, known as Delta Professionals Network, (DPN), blown open and drawn the attention of the general public and Deltans in particular to the probe panel set up by the Delta State government in 2009 which Indicted the Labour Party Candidate, Deacon Ken Pela while serving as chairman, Delta Building Society.
The Government probe Panel of inquiry headed by the then Delta State Commissioner for Finance and later re-examined by another team headed by the then Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had found Ken Pela guilty of corruptly diverting public funds to personal use in building his private house in Lagos and accordingly enriching himself massively to the tune of N100 million.
An Urhobo adage said “it is only a child that measures his manhood with that of his father that challenges him openly otherwise what is the background of these people compared to Gbagi?
Gbagi’s rising profile, CV and series of endorsement has become a nightmare to his opponents.
Recently, on the 27th of February 2923, to be precise, Delta State Muslims comprising Chief Imams and Clerics of various
Mosques across the 25 local government area of the State, endorsed Gbagi, as their choice for the governorship election.
In same vein, on 4th January 2023, the Archbishop of Bendel Province, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Bishop Cyril Odiboghene Odutemu, anointed Gbagi, as the successor to the incumbent, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in the March governorship election.
The state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) under Bishop Kingsley Enakirerhi, endorsed Gbagi, likewise. It is sad that Bishop Enakirerhi, allegedly sold his birthright for a N600 million “Red Porridge”.
The Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Evangelical Church Winning All (ECKWA-TEKAN) to mention but a few, all endorsed Gbagi, as the only governorship candidate that can liberate Delta State.
Traditional rulers are not left out of the endorsement. The Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof) Chike Endozien, said “Gbagi, here, is our son. We have worked for years. We know him well and we trust him”. What other endorsement could be more accepted than this coming from a monarch who was a senior consultant in chemical Pathology at the University College, Ibadan, who played, and continue to play important role as a symbol of unity in the state.
Also, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Anthony William Ovrawah Omagha I, the Odio Ologbo of Oleh Kingdom, Isoko south local government area, called on the entire Isoko Nation to give their votes to Gbagi.
Deltans would not use political parties as a deciding factor in the choice of a governorship candidate to succeed Okowa, Patani Traditional Rulers Council said.
This was the declaration of the three traditional rulers that made up the Council, the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Barr. Shadrach Erebulu, Adou lll, Ebenana-owei of Tarakiri Kingdom HRM Dr. Owoupele Danladi Foubiri, PhD, Angulu 1, and Ebenanaowei of Kumbowei kingdom, HRM Dr. Jackson Foubiriowei Angalabiri Egbain, II, Deltans have gone beyond voting based on the political party presenting candidates but individuals with capacity, character, integrity and competence.
When the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, met Gbagi for the first time, at his palace, he couldn’t hide his feelings from him.
He said: “I am very delighted to see my brother and friend Chief Kenneth Gbagi. I have heard a lot about you even if we have not met. It is only good things I have heard about you. I appreciate all of you who came with my friend and brother.”
“Those who came to book for your appointment are dear to me. They told me good things about you and I said I will see you today (Tuesday).
Please with Gbagi, he opened his heart and poured prayers on Gbagi, “My prayer is that God should give us leaders that will make positive changes in the lives of the people.
”I will say God bless you, and chart your path for you. If you are the one chosen by God, He should lift you and take you to greater heights.
“I pray God should touch the heart of our leaders to make the difference in our lives. God should give us a leader that should develop the whole state, not selective leaders,” the monarch said.
The list is unending as the Ovie of Agbon kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Mike Omeru, OGU-RIME-RIME, Ukori I, (JP), said he was confident that Gbagi, would lead the State to the promise land.
“I have confidence in his ability to lead and to be a good governor of Delta state and I want to appeal to him that if it is the will of God and the will of the people of Delta State to become the governor, he should not renege in his usual good disposition to good governance because he has all it takes to be a good governor”, he declared.
Deltans particularly the Church, if your actions don’t live up to your words, you have nothing to say. It’s Gbagi, or no other!
