Supporters of His Excellency, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi OON, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), took over Adaigho Foundation Gospel Crusader, belonging to Archbishop GimBright Adaigho, in Ozoro, Isoko north local government area of Delta State.
The largest private investor was at the Church on Thursday January 19th 2023, to present himself to the of over 100 church leaders comprising of Archbishops, Bishops, Venerables, pastors, Evangelists and other church founders as one with competence, character and integrity to look after the affairs of the State in the next election.
Few minutes after his arrival at the church meeting which coincided with SDP Isoko North campaign rally, the teeming supporters swarm into the Church building chanting “No Gbagi, No Governor”.
It took the frantic efforts of security operatives and other church leaders to calm the situation, as Gbagi believers virtually turned the church meeting into a carnival, bearing banners, flags, and also dressed in outfits showing their support for Gbagi.
Speaking at the meeting, the Bishop of Oleh Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev’d Usiwoma Aruakpor, said it was time for people with impeccable character to take over the governance of the state.
His words: “The thing we complain about, is character of Christ that is lacking. When you say you are the light and God is light, it is because we are created in his image and the likeness of God.
“So, we need people of character, competence and people that can rule our nation that we can call upon and say to them that what you are doing is not right and he will change and if he does not change, the next election, we vote him out.
“And we can tell you that the church is in number that can stand and do something and things will change and so I trust that this time around that we are moving out of our sober, we will know how to use our voting right to correct the evil and the things that have not been done well. May the good Lord help us to do it right in Jesus name”, he prayed.
Addressing the body of Christ, the SDP governorship candidate, Gbagi FNIM, who lamented that there was a grave danger ahead, said the church has been disused by those in power.
His words: “There’s a grave danger ahead of us and unless we do what is right, it only get worst because we are being deceived. If you follow my campaign, you will see that I’ve been going to churches. That is because I believe that is where the problem lies.
“They have made us to believe that the church is not supposed to be involved in politics, whereas everything we do in life has a political element to it.
“The church has become poorer today because of what we brought upon ourselves as a people”.
He maintained that unless the church choose to rise up and elect a governor with good character, “we will be deceiving ourselves. You cannot do the same thing all the time and expect a different result”, he added.
At the end of the Church meeting, the growing supporters of Gbagi and SDP, marched straight to Ekwerigbe Primary School, Ozoro, venue for Isoko north rally, where they took over the field, as they marched around the school premises.
The SDP candidate supporters, also known as “Gbagi Trust”, also marched along several roads in Ozoro, the local government administrative headquarter chanting “Gbagi for governor, no challenge”.
Several of them also wore shirts and caps branded with pictures of Gbagi, the SDP logo and colour which gave the mega rally a different shape.
The movement of the crowd caused heavy gridlock on roads as cars and motorcycle riders could not move freely for a while.
Meanwhile, over 50 per cent of motorcycle operators, otherwise known as Okada riders jettison their hustle for the day in solidarity for the man they described as a “the right person for the job”.
Addressing the mammoth crowd of party faithful and other supporters across political divide, who defiled the scorching sun to wait for the great Delta patriot, Gbagi, assured them that never again would Fulani herdsmen chase them out of their farmlands.
He said from the day he would be sworn-in, as governor, “Allowing cows to stray about will never happen in my government. I will build in all my borders abattoir for those who will sell cows for us and for those who will come to buy.
“I will not see cattles in my streets. In develop world, you will not see cattles walking in the street”, he assured.
The industrialist revealed that anywhere he goes, he looks for where he could built industries, stressing that the only way to go, is to industrialize Delta State.
“I strongly believe that Isoko North can become the food basket of the nation. This is because Isoko North is located in a low water bed that can be used to grow the best rice to feed Deltans and also export to neighboring states and even outside the country.
“Isoko has the greatest environment and the terrain to produce Uncle Ben’s Rice like America. So, part of the food basket of Nigeria, not only Delta, we will produce rice in Isoko land that the entire country and beyond will buy rice from Isoko every year”, adding that his administration would make over N100 billion from the sales of rice grown in Isoko nation.
Addressing the denial of Isoko north their other State Constituency, the Criminologist said: “I know of the great injustice that has been brought upon the people of Isoko north, that injustice is that Isoko North like some other local governments, have been denied their second Constituency. I will restore it within six months. I will restore the second Constituency of Isoko north within six months”, he assured.
