Leading governorship aspirant in Delta State, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, has picked the expression of interest form ahead of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) primaries slated for May 7th 2022.
The largest private industrialist in the state, is the first gubernatorial hopeful to pick the form ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Gbagi made the revelation while speaking as a guest speaker on Wednesday March 23rd 2022, at the 2022 Annual NUJ Press Week Lecture/Award Ceremony with the theme: “2023 General Elections and Security Challenges”, held in Warri.
According to him, “I bring you good news, as at today I am the first person seeking to become governor that has bought his nomination form”, he revealed.
Meanwhile, the prominent governorship hopeful, has warned that the state is too complex to handed over to illiterates and people with questionable character.
He asserted that the choice of a wrong governorship candidate, would be a calamity to the state.
“Unless, we speak the truth, the wrong choice of a governor in Delta State, will be a calamity. Don’t think about me, the wrong choice of a governor in Delta State, more particularly going to 2023, the severity implications, you cannot stand it.
“It was difficult enough for such a grounded education man like Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, to run the state. It as difficult for another doctor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to run the State. So, to dare to say you want to bring an illetrat to govern Delta, Complex as Delta is, it is setting the state straight away on fire.
“I am saying to dare to to now bring one with several questionable character, Delta State is gone”, he warned.
Addressing the issue of yellow journalism in the profession, Gbagi, said: “I hold journalists responsible in the dying situation we found ourselves in Delta.
“The problem we have in Delta today, if you don’t want to be economical with the truth, 72 percent is traceable to the misconduct of journalists in this state. The ritualist, killings, bribery, the bad performances of any government, local government, minister, Commissioners or what have you, the misconduct of traditional rulers is the fault of journalists.
“Unless we say the truth to ourselves, we will be wasting our time. Journalists, you have all it takes to repair every facet of our democracy and the country. Were we to collectively agree to dubiousness and bad governance, the state would have been better for it.
“The bad, the good and the ugly that is allowed to happen in our time is in the hands of the journalists. Journalists are more respected in the developed world than the police. Journalists are more important in purifying the State than the policeman.
“Journalists in Delta State under Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, came out to say I have a Lion in my house, I have never seen Lion in my life. They say I don’t pay salaries, I went on television to say anybody who can proof that I don’t pay him salaries should provide evidence with evidence and I will pay N10 million to the person, nobody came out.
“Journalists have a major role to resolve the problem, otherwise the issue of security. Unless, we decide to have a peaceful election, we will have a problem.
He aligned with the position of the immediate past Governor of the state, for better welfare scheme for journalists, “I subject my thinking to that of Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, that to ignore anybody who makes news, is to ignore the very foundation of your people, to ignore journalists, it is a greatest de-service any government or businessman will do to himself, country or state”.
