It is now on record as the incoming Governor of Delta State, under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), His Excellency, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi OON, broke 800 years old record as the first and only gubernatorial candidate in the State to storm Afor Market in Issele-Uku, Aniocha north local government area of the state to campaign for votes.
Since the creation of the State in 1999 and the establishment of Afor Market in 1280 AD, over 800 years ago, no governorship candidate of any political party, has personally with his teeming supporters visited the market to canvass for support.
In fact, no politician or political party has campaigned in the market. However, Gbagi, FNIM, the first Black African in the whole world to become an AKS member of Rotary International to donate $2500 for charity, broke the record.
The former minister of state for education and biggest private investor in the State, is the only politician that broke the over 800 years record on Tuesday January 10th 2023, when he in company of the Deputy governorship candidate, Chief Mrs Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary, the Vice Chairman of the party, South-south, Elder Fred Owotorofa, the Director General of Gbagi Campaign Council, Prof. Jiff Mokobia, the Deputy Director General, Prof. Augustus Atubi among other party stalwarts invaded the market with handbills to woo the people.
Other political parties, it was gathered, would only send their supporters and representatives to the market.
It was gathered that PDP campaign was held at Issele-Uku technical school but Gbagi, had a one-on-one interaction with the electorate and not party members.
A source who simply identified himself as Chijioke, who made the revelation, added that no Governorship candidate from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) which has ruled Delta State since 1999 and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have physically visited the market to campaign for votes.
Our source said the move would count for Gbagi, as the traders would take the gesture very serious.
A trader, Mrs. Ikechukwu, who corroborated the revelation said, “I thought he (Gbagi), was at home and sent you people to talk to us as usual. This man will make a difference if he is elected governor”, she said.
The former Chairman, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria cum SDP governorship candidate and his campaign team, berthed at the Ofor Market where he was received by thronging crowds of traders comprising women, men, party supporters and indigenes of Issele-Uku.
The prominent gubernatorial candidate was led to the market by the Omu of Issele-Uku, where Gbagi, had the privilege to interact and distribute his handbills to the traders.
At the market while Gbagi and his team were distributing handbills and chatting with traders, many of them demanded to know the name of the political party, saying they were tired of PDP and APC as they have not kept their promises to Deltans.
According to them, “we will not vote for the PDP and APC candidates because they have failed us since 1999. They only come with unfulfilled promises when it comes to election.
“We have been here since morning, no sales because of the bad economy that PDP at the state and APC at the federal have brought on us” they lamented.
