No doubt, the governorship aspiration of the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly (NASS), Senator James Manager, has been rejected by the Ijaw Nation.
Manager who would be spending 20 years in the National Assembly by the end of 2023, has nothing or little to show as Constituency projects for his people as a supposedly “ranking Senator”.
This made traditional rulers of Delta Ijaw extraction to pitch tent with the resounding and leading governorship aspirant, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, a former minister of education.
The decision of the monarchs to queue behind the most acceptable gubernatorial hopeful, was borne out of his (Gbagi’s) outstanding performance as former minister and life touching philanthropic gestures across board.
The traditional rulers stated this during Olorogun Gbagi’s visit to the Ijaw Traditional Rulers Council, where he was overwhelmingly received and endorsed to run for the governorship.
Chairman, Ijaw Traditional Rulers Council, the paramount ruler of Ogulagha kingdom, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Joseph Timighan, who was flanked by the Pere of Siembiri Kingdom, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, Pere of Akugbene Mein Kingdom, HRM Luke Kalanama, Pere of Ogne-Ijoh kingdom, HRM Couple Oromoni, Mobene III and others made the royal pronouncement.
King Timighan, disclosed that Gbagi’s visit was to seek the royal blessings and prayers in respect of his ambition to be governor of the State come 2023.
Also, HRM Kalanama, said: “You (Gbagi) are a household name in Delta and Nigeria. We are praying for a good leader that will continue from where the present governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa will stop and you are also an Ijaw man”, they declared.
Similarly, HRM Ayemi-Botu, who led the monarchs in the special prayer for the gubernatorial aspirant, said: “You have all it takes to transform the state and take it to another level. So, go and get the PDP ticket; we will pray for you”, they assured him.
It is worthy to note that Manager’s aspiration, though dead on arrival, didn’t receive the blessings of his own kings. An indication that his dream of succeeding the incumbent governor, remains a mirage.
In his response, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, pointed out that he has friends of Ijaw extraction spread across the Ijaw nation.
Gbagi said, “I am one of you and I am here to present myself to you. My strength is that I am an industrialist and I have the capacity and connection to industrialize Delta State.
“Some people are worried about me because they say I cannot be controlled but I would rather want you to convince me as to how we can all develop the state, not to control me”.
He commended the State governor, Dr. Okowa, for his developmental strides across the state.
“There is no local government area across the three senatorial districts in the state that he has not tarred between one to ten roads.
“Governor Okowa has done something unique in the past six years; he has been able to manage inter-communal crisis without which we would not have peace. Please continue to support him to finish strong”, he appealed.
