The President General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun Barr. Ese Gam, has paid glowing tribute to the late Governorship candidate under the auspices of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the 2023 general elections, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi FNIM OON.
Olorogun Gam, on Saturday June 1, 2024, led a top delegation of UPU leadership to the children of the deceased at his Oginibo country home, describing the late philanthropist as one who was larger than life.
Addressing the family and other sympathizers, the UPU President General said: “Your father is my brother. I can’t use the word was.
“Your father was larger than life and even till now, he is still larger than life.
“He was a great man, hence, we sang the Urhobo song. We know that even here that we are today, he us still watching at us, hence, an Urhobo adage says Orugba, meaning perfection”, stressing that they were at his home because of the late Gbagi.
He disclosed that the UPU would like to fully participate during the burial arrangements and we are here because of him.
“during the burial, we will like to participate fully”, he stressed.
Speaking further, he described Gbagi, as an achiever, “What was left that he could not achieve? He was not a Chief of one small local government or one kingdom, he was a global Chief.
“Is there any place his mates traveled to on this earth that he could not travel to because there was no money? No.
“Everything his mates have he had them not like us who have them in little quantity, he had them in larger quantity”.
He assured the children and other family members that UPU would not abandon them, “you are not alone, we are forever with you.
“Your father has left a indelible mark, nothing can ever wipe his name from the history of Urhobo Nation and Nigeria, again. A man who rose to the rank of a minister, is that a small person? He asked just as he prayed for them to be more prosperous.
In his response, the eldest son, Chief Emuobo Gbagi, expressed gratitude to UPU for the visit, saying, “I want to thank everybody, since our father died, its been very hard for us his children but without the support of the Urhobo Nation, we will not be here today.
“We appreciate you all, we will always come to you people. We will come for advise. I know there will come a time when you people can speak for us”, he added.
