… Say “I will do no less than Okowa”
As the controversy of which senatorial district or ethic group should produce the next governor of Delta State come 2023, continues, leading governorship aspirant in the state, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, has warned that nobody should test the quietness of the Urhobo man or those from Delta Central whose turn it is to govern the State.
“Every business of politics today in Nigeria, is done by zoning. The only way we can move, is to run government by senatorial district. The peace we have enjoyed, nobody should test the quietness of the Urhobo man or Delta Central people”, he warned.
The gubernatorial hopeful, stated this on Wednesday March 2nd 2022, during his consultative visits to Ukwuani, Ika northeast and Ika south Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) LGAs chairmen and party delegates.
“Government is going back to Central. You people should support this governor. It must go back to Central and Central must produce the governor”, Gbagi, insisted.
He maintained that when power shifts to Central, the ethnic groups that makes up the district would come together to decide who takes the shot, stressing that no one should truncate the peace that the zoning on senatorial basis has brought to bear.
While presenting himself to the people as the best material for the job, he described the incumbent governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, as an excellent administrator, saying “I have made my name in industrialization”.
He said: “Among the people who are presenting themselves to you, if you allow a criminal to come and governor you, then you are a criminal. The prize of stupidity in government is an expansive one.
“Delegates, the choice is yours. I believe very strongly that my first agenda, is youth emancipation. If all the local governments are developed, the State is developed. I believe very strongly that I have all it takes. Search everybody who is coming to visit you, think of your children. Make no mistake,
“You need a man with mental qualification to lead the people. The 2023 election is not a joke. The man that is coming to give you all these money is above 50 years. Anybody who is above 50 must have formed and practice what he wants to tells you”, warning that they should shelve money politics for the sake of their children and children yet unborn, “Don’t be deceived”.
According to the largest private industrialist in the state, “My business coming to present myself that I want to govern the state is that I believe that I can change the narrative from where we are now to a different level.
“What I have said that I will do from day one is if there is any youth in your local government that has no gainful employment after my one year, move that I should resign. One thing that I will do, is to galvanize the youths.
“What you people should look for is somebody who has a father, who you can trace to his root. Some just finished some 4-8 years of jail terms. Some of them cannot enter London. If you vote an ex-convict, then it is you that wants to take the state backwards.
“Ask these people who are coming to tell you lies, where are your investments in Delta State? if you don’t believe that you want to invest in our land and after 50 years you come that you want to rule the state, it means you want to come to steal our money.
“If I don’t believe in the state 34 years ago, I will not come to invest in the state. A man that has no business and factory brings money to you, that means those are the monies he stole. Let nobody deceive you people, I will not do less than Okowa has done. While Okowa is an excellent administrator, I have made my name in industrialization. You will be making a lot of havocs against your children and grandchildren if you lock yourself by your own hands.
“Search me. Delta State will be a different State in Nigeria under my government. The effects of bad governance is not anything that we want to toy with. If I appeal to you as the best, please send me to go and represent you and hold me accountable”, he assured.
In their separate responses, the LGA Chairman in Ukwuani, Engr. Patrick Kaine, his counterpart in Ika northeast, Chuks Ogbomah and Ika south, Jude Oyan, noted that the state needs a man that has the capacity to move it to another level.
According to Kaine: “You are Okowa’s very close friend. Okowa will definitely like what I am going to beg you people, Delta Central in particular, let us give him a helping hand, let us continue to support Okowa. He will never handover to someone that will come to destroy Delta.
“Okowa, will handover to the best person and so, we are all going to work with Okowa to make sure that the best person will takeover from him. We are one united family because all of us are moving the same way to one place”.
On his part, Ogbomah said: “You have been there from day one. Your name is ringing bell in Delta State politics. We know you have what it takes to run for the governorship. You don’t have problem in Ika northeast. Take time to work with the Governor. He has never lied to us. We will not wait until he speaks, we watch his body movement, and once it is clear we follow him. He asked us to pray that he is waiting for God to direct and once God direct we will follow him. All sons and daughters of Ika northeast will be very happy to work with you.
Also, Oyan, hinted: “In this local government, I have a very big passion for Okowa. The 12 Ward chairmen and excos are behind Okowa, we are praying for him to pick the best candidate that will takeover from him”, he said.
