…once Delta gets to work, Nigeria will follow — Olu of Warri
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, has disclosed that haven spent so many years in building the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), he has come to realized that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
The former minister of State for education, made the disclosure when he led the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, candidates of the party vying for various positions and the National Working Committee (NWC) to the Palace of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III on a courtesy visit on Saturday June 25th 2022.
The philanthropist and largest private investor who hinted that revered traditional ruler of his political sojourn from the PDP to the SDP, lamented that a state which was governed and being govern by elites yet with huge challenges would be left for someone who never went to school.
Hear him: “Ogiame, you are not new to Delta politics, I founded the party and I contested the first primary in 1999 and I have had stayed in the party all these while , I have come to see that there is no light in that tunnel .
“As a former minister of education, what I did is there for everybody to see. I created 13 Universities within six months as a minister. What we have here were we to allow it to happen the whole basis of our existence will be washed away.
“If Chief James Onanefe Ibori, went to the University of Benin and read Economist, Governor Uduaghan and Dr. Okowa, read Medicine and these people are having difficult, I wonder how somebody who never read at all, will come and head us.
“I decided to take the sojourn by faith by going to SDP with those who believe that they can turn the situation around. They believe that the state can be better than this. They believe that this state should be equitable and not people coming to tell stories from this side and what we are really doing is from this other side.
“I have seen it all, the governor would have been said to be one of my closet friends, I actually fought my life for him to be governor. My only problem sir, I am not controllable, I am told. I don’t know why would anybody would want to control me. I have come to inform you as a very revered traditional father in this state, that I have moved to the SDP and I am going to contest the election in SDP alongside with all my friends and people that believed in me.
“We seek your prayers and your understanding that you bless this mission for us if it will be for the good and the greatness of the state. We cannot live a deceitful life for the rest of our lives. I believe I have something to offer, I believe I can turn the fortunes around, I believe I have no blemish that would stop me from doing what I ought to do in the state”.
He tasked the monarch to dig into his life for prove of his claims, “I plead with to search who I am and my ability and if you are comfortable that I will do justice to this state, this state is too wealthy for us to be poor and I believed that we have mismanaged our resources” he added.
In his response, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III who agreed that the right people must be elected into positions of authority said Nigeria, is on its way to getting it right just as he appreciated God for the uninterrupted democracy been enjoyed since 1999.
“Nigeria, is on its way. We are very grateful for the uninterrupted democracy we have enjoyed since 1999. God has a way of deepening our democratic process. On the surface, the specifics may be differ but ultimately, it is playing out for the good of Nigerians whether or not we can actually see it.
“Once you know that there is healthy competition, with good alternatives, the best has to come out from each platforms. The more limited the options, and I have come to understand that more Nigerians are not party members than Nigerians who are party members and I am sure often times the more Nigerians who are not party members ask themselves, can we have other parties?
“Nigerians are really looking beyond the two obvious right now and they are really looking to see instead of usual parties what can they really see what else they think and what again this goes beyond Delta State. Delta State politics is critical to Nigeria, a lot of people look at Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and I dare say that the minute Delta State works, Nigeria, will in turn follow and so I agree with you that Delta State has to work, produce the best.
“The leadership we need in Delta State, is the one that doesn’t really see tribe and sentiments because if we do that it only has adverse effects on us and so I welcome this new development, adventure and this new journey that is on and I really pray that as we see God’s hands only the best that will come out of it for the prosperity of all Deltans.
“May God bless you, may he grant you favour, the resources that you desire, may the resources locate you, may he give you words to speak to the populace. So, I bless you and God willing, we will see the outcome and we will all be grateful for it at the end”.
