*Entrust Gbagi’s Ambition To God
By Onome Oghenetega
Traditional rulers of Ijaw Nation in Delta State have described Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, a former Nigerian Minister of State for Education, as man that can be trusted with resources of the Delta if elected governor in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The revered Ijaw monarchs also attest of Gbagi’s capacity to build on the achievements of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration to industrialize the state particularly in the underdeveloped riverine areas of the state.
The royal fathers spoke when Gbagi, a frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for the 2023 governorship election in the state paid a consultative visit to the Ijaw monarchs yesterday in Warri.
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They said though they can attest to Gbagi’s reputable profile, it was only God that has the power to choose who succeeds Governor Okowa in 2023.
The former minister was received at the Warri Palace of the chairman of Ijaw Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty Elder Capt King Joseph I. Timiyan, JP, Agbonu, Torobubor 1, the Ibenanawei of Ogulagha kingdom.
Among the Ijaw monarchs who received the governorship aspirant are the Pere of Siembiri Kingdom, His Majesty, Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu; Pere of Akugbene Mein Kingdom, HRM Luke Kalanama; Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri kingdom, HRM Couple Oromoni, Mobene and others.
In his remark, King Timiyan said Gbagi was at the palace to visit them for prayers and blessings concerning his 2023 ambition to govern the state.
According to monarch, “What we will do is prayers, we will take your request as part of our prayer points for God to give you wisdom and good health to achieve your mission. Only God will do it, we will only support “
HRM Kalanama asserted; “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, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa will stop and you are also an Ijaw man.
HRM Ayemi-Botu, who led the monarchs on prayer for the aspirant, said: “You have all it takes to transform the state and take it to another level, so go and get PDP ticket, we will pray for you.”
Gbagi, who reminded the Ijaw traditional rulers of his relationship with some prominent Ijaw leaders, thenaked the royal father for receiving him for an audience and prayers.
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He commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his development strides in the state, saying: “There is no local government area across the three senatorial districts in the state that he had not tarred between one to ten roads.”
“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 the state.
“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.
“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 asserted.
