By Possible Ogheneseruo
Vying for a political office either at the federal, state, or local government level is no longer for neophytes but for someone who is politically mature. Gone are the days when people clamour to contest for political offices without understanding what it takes to occupy such offices. Contesting for political offices like the office of the President, Governor, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly or any other positions as the case may be need somebody who understands the intricacies and nitty-gritty of the office. Apart from the above, the person should be someone who possesses all the necessary qualities educationally, industrially, religiously and so on.
This brings to mind the squabble for the next governor of Delta State come 2023. Delta State has been stabilized to a large extent since Senator Governor Okowa assumed the number one position of the State in 2015 and Deltans will not want the State to derail for a second as from May 29, 2023 when he bows out of power. This is the more reason why Delta and Deltans must tread carefully on who takes over from Okowa come May 29, 2023.
Without doubt, Delta is a PDP state and the party is still ready to retain the position of producing the next Governor come 2023. Retaining the position may be an easy task on the one hand and it may not be an easy task on the other. Retaining the position sorely depends on how the party bigwigs pilot the affairs of the party and have the foresight of choosing a credible candidate. One single mistake by the political juggernauts of the party in fielding a wrong candidate will be regretful for another four years. God forbid that the PDP should field a wrong candidate! This is why the party must weigh the pros and cons before fielding any candidate.
Among those hustling and jostling for the number one position are political neophytes who are still crawling politically. They have not even learned how to stand not to talk of walking politically.
Some of the known names who are warming up to contest the next Governorship election come 2023 in PDP are Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, David Edevhie, Speaker Oborevwori, Barr. Mrakpor while those that may likely contest for the Governorship position in APC are Barr. Ovie Omoagege, Great Ogboru and Otega Emerho, among others.
Now that we are in 2021, more persons are going to join the race. However, among the numerous persons eyeing the number one seat, one man stands extremely tall among them. This is no other person than Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi.
Olorogun Gbagi, apart from hailing from Delta Central Senatorial District where Senator Okowa’s successor will emanate from all things being equal, possesses viable and relevant attributes of a Governor. Olorogun Gbagi is a Lawyer and a Criminologist. These two educational qualifications combined put him ahead of others in knowing how to tackle the security situation of the state. Kudos to Governor Okowa in the area of security in the state but security issues can surface at any point in time and needs highly professional and acquainted person to tackle. Olorogun Gbagi possesses the qualities to tame any security issue in the state.
In the area of education, the renowned Criminologist knows that no country or state can develop beyond the level of her education. This was what prompted him to establish many universities, polytechnics, colleges of education coupled with different secondary and primary schools as a State Minister for Education during President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime. All the tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools established by Olorogun Gbagi are great citadel of learning today and will continue to stand the test of time any time, any day. Gbagi is a man that values education so well. He sees education as indispensable, hence today many Deltans across the three senatorial districts are in his scholarship scheme. He believes that with education at least an average standard of living is guaranteed. As an educationist, he follows a Abraham Lincoln philosophy. Abraham Lincoln, a one time President of the United States of American once said that “education is a passport to the future and those who want to see tomorrow must prepare for it today”. Gbagi as a Governor come 2023 knows how to prepare children educationally to achieve a good standard of living.
In the area of industry, Gbagi is the only man in Delta State that can be compared and likened to Aliko Dangote, the great industrialist. Gbagi’s fleet of companies speak volume both in the country and in diaspora. Gbagi knows how to turn around or revive the morribond industries in the state. He knows how to create a conducive environment that will attract industrialists from everywhere in the world. As an industrialist, he knows how to make Delta State the industrial hub of the country.
Most of our young graduates today depend mostly on civil service jobs which cannot even cater for 20 percent of the youths population. The rest are engaging in all forms of menial jobs to survive while others are engaging in heinous and illegal means of survival known as “Yahoo or Yahoo plus” as the case may be.
Some of us grew up to meet companies like African Timber and Plywood, located in Sapele, Asaba Textile Mill, located in Asaba, Delta Glass, located in Ughelli and a host of others. Today, all these companies have gone into Oblivion. Different types of reptiles and weeds have overtaken their sites and are having a free day.
It is a known fact that one of the major reasons why there are alot of kidnapping and other security issues in the country is due to lack of gainful employment. Olorogun Gbagi has the capacity and capability to revive all the morribond industries and to also establish new ones. Our youths need jobs to earn a living.
Olorogun Gbagi has at the tip of his fingers how to develop the state. Deltans should not make a mistake of allowing Gbagi slips off them as a result of ethnicity, money bag politicians or political greed. The state and stage we are now in Delta state is for Okowa to have a successor who has what it takes to follow his footsteps in developing the state industrially and and remove our youths from idleness and the streets.
Also, Gbagi has been known and seen as an accomplished wealthy man. Olorogun Gbagi remains one of the few rich men in Nigeria that EFCC or ICPC has not invited for questioning on the ground of corruption. Gbagi’s source of riches is more than genuine. His sources of wealth are very glaring. Unlike others, he is not seeking for power to acquire wealth, he is already wealth personified. He knows the problems of the different communities in the state and has what it takes to bring succour to them.
Deltans should not go for glittering and name dropping politicians but support Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi that has been tested and approved in all ramifications
Possible Ogheneseruo wrote from Asaba, the Delta State capital.
