Barr. Gbagi, a former Minister of State for Education, in an interview, disclosed that he is the oldest founder of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in the state.
Hear him: “I am the oldest founder, I cannot do it alone if the issue is to choose the narrative of Delta. However, I think I am best for the job. I went out to contact notable people in Delta state and they observed that if I can do the things I have done with my businesses, then I can bring a whole lot to the table for Deltans. I will not meddle with state funds, rather I will bring in my experience to further develop the state”, he assured.
The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, observed that incumbent governors have always known their successors but the masses sometimes decides otherwise.
“I believe every government from 1999 to date, governors have always known who they want to hand over to, but we have seen in our lifetime it doesn’t always go the way they want it to go. When we started the PDP in Delta State, I was the first among the three contestants from Central.
“If you saw that arrangement we followed through, after Ibori finished his tenure of eight years, it went to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and now it is the turn of the North, so it is coming back to Central”.
Speaking further, the governorship hopeful said: “My hardwork and transparency has gone ahead of me. Let all who want to run come forth and tell Deltans what they can offer. Deltans are wise, you must be able to help yourself before you can manage a complex state like Delta. let us tell them what we have to offer”.
Gbagi, regretted that people often tell lies to themselves rather than face issue base campaign, insisting that he has lived with good conscience in all his dealings.
“One of the greatest problem we face in this part of our world is that we lie to ourselves. I have managed my life in such a way that I am blemishless. Go and search me, except you don’t want the good of the state. Nobody wants people with no pedigree to lead Delta. Deltans have identified that we can do the job, and we will key in at the national level”.
On the allegation of stripping his workers’ naked, a subtile move by some who felt his ambition was threatening to theirs, he said: “I heard all sorts of stories, they said I’m charged for robbery, that I’m a kidnapper, and even alleged I stripped people naked. I just laugh at them. Who in the world do you want to tell that?
“Those behind these stories and allegations are these politicians who believe that since they cannot find anything to smear my image such as corruption and so on, they might as well say that I sent somebody to strip people naked just to give me a bad name. It never happened, it couldn’t have been.
“I am a father of six daughters, lovely ones at that. It never happened! It is all political blackmail. They say that I robbed, who did I rob? Who did I kidnap? It’s just an attempt to smear me and halt my political speed. That’s what they are afraid of. How do you reconcile this.
“I have businesses in Abuja, there’s no problem. Nobody is saying I’m a robber here. A good chunk of my businesses are in Lagos, they are thriving and running, and nobody is saying that they are stripped naked and all of that. Suddenly in Delta where I have a political ambition, I am stripping some women naked and so on. Even the biggest fool knows that it is politically motivated. Who did I send to naked them?
“I never sent anyone to go strip people naked, and I never robbed or kidnapped anybody. These were allegations which I came across on social media just like everyone. When we wanted to do election in 2007, a story came that I don’t pay my workers.
“You would have read it. A story also came that I have snakes and a lion in my house; and they said TB Joshua was the one who saw the vision. They said I had a lion that was going to devour the former Governor in his house. As a result of the rumour, schools were closed, people started running.
“I am surprised they didn’t even include in their story that I sexually harassed the ladies, maybe they felt it would be difficult to convince the public about that. These are all political gimmicks for you to sieve, it’s not difficult to tell they want to smear my name. How can you wish to destroy a business dynasty which I built in the last 35 years by the grace of God, by suddenly coming to say all kinds of lies because you want to contest election? Now, they are in court, and the court will tell Nigerians who these people are”, he revealed.
