Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), His Excellency, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi OON, has assured Deltans of his preparedness to tackle the challenges facing the State from the day he is sworn-in as governor on 29th May, 2023.
The former minister of state for education who stated this on Wednesday 15th 2023, at the Palace of the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Highness (HRM), Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Keagborekuzi I, noted that all it takes to fix the problems of the state is a focused leadership armed with competence, capacity and entrepreneurial mind.
The largest employer of labour in the State, is a good illustration of the Holy Bible, in Proverbs 29:2, the people will always, not only rejoice, but triumph when a good leader is with the mantle of leadership.
Speaking at the occasion, Gbagi, promised to turn Delta into a State that future generations would be proud of.
He noted that unless there is a level playing field for all irrespective of religious, ethnic or political divide, the state would move nowhere, stressing that youths emancipation, industrialization are the way forward.
“Unless we remove all our youths from the street and gainfully engage them, we have failed. Unless we create jobs for them to do, we will have problems.
“If we bring back our moribund industries, we will create employment for the youths. Were I to re-enact the Asaba Textile Mill in three shifts, that will give me no less a 100 employees per shift.
“Apart from producing Ankara dress which we were used to before, were I to produce Jeans material, which is very easy to do, I would have created a tailoring job to start sowing Jeans material to export to America, Canada, Brazil.
“While the tailors are doing their jobs, those packing them are there, those doing the cartons and those packing them to the Ship and various containers, we will earn a lot of revenue”.
According to Gbagi, SDP is working hard to go into the polls with the sole aim of winning and succeeding the incumbent, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
He disclosed that all he and those who are bent on liberating Delta are doing is strategizing, calculating and organizing party members particularly Deltans to confront the challenge before the State.
He said the Social Democratic Party, is a social movement ready to deliver good dividends of democracy to Deltans by ensuring that Deltans enjoys free education to the university level, provide good development, prosperity, while agriculture and agro allied projects would be embarked upon.
“We have been talking of Onitsha market forever, a simple example, I will dtaw right from the bridge, one kilometer into Asaba and I will bridge the two markets together and that will give me over 2000 people gainfully employed doing self businesses of theirs to create revenue.
“Your Royal Majesty, I believe that there are a number of industries that have been killed. Take industries from Oghara, Warri, Sapele but are no more.
“In my reign as governor, I want to take every youth into my system and pay them N30, 000 a month but that will not last for more than three months, that way I would have computarized their needs and transform them into the system.
“As we are speaking today, we have completely no viable industry for business. The solution to emancipating our youths, is industry”, Gbagi announced.
In his response, the Dein of Agbor kingdom, who was named the world’s youngest crowned monarch, commended the industrialist for his foresight and bringing a healthy competition into the democratic system.
“I respect you so much. Thank you for the competition, this is what democracy is”, just as he called on the political actors to admonish their supporters on the need to play by the rules.
Those on the entourage with the SDP gubernatorial candidate are his Deputy governorship candidate, Chief Mrs Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary, the South-south Vice Chairman of SDP, Elder Fred Owotorofa, the State Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Mrs. Esther Ikwule.
Others are the Director General of Gbagi Campaign Council, Prof Jiff Mokobia, the Deputy Director General, Prof. Augustus Atubi, the Chairman, Delta Central Senatorial District, Mike Dugbo, Ughelli south LGA Chairman, Pastor Amos Osiki, his counterpart in Ughelli north, Hon. Tega Nikiro amongst other teaming party members and supporters.
