Presidents-General of the 24 Urhobo kingdoms in Delta state have asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to endorse former minister of state for education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, as PDP
2023 governorship flag bearer and leave the mobilization for them.
The PGs under the aegis of Presidents- General Forum.(PGF) led by Chief Godwin Notoma, who doubles as president general of Udu kingdom, Wednesday, unanimously endorsed Gbagi for the coveted seat, praying his ambition scales through.
Several speakers, including Prof. Author Ekpekpe, President-General of Ewu kingdom and Chief Erute President-General of Uvwie Kingdom, called on the leading governorship aspirant to tackle headlong the issue of insecurity that has bedevilled the state, especially Urhobo riverine communities.
In their separate prayers, Chief Notoma prayed: “We are in agreement with you, this journey you have embarked on, everywhere you go, you will return home safely with your entourage. Affliction will not come near you. Peace will be with you.
“You put Urhobo first and you are putting Urhobo first, may God bless you with true riches. May Urhobo succeed under your watch as governor”.
Also, Chief Erute, in his prayers, stated: “We cannot reject you. PDP has brought you forward. There is no independent candidate, you have come out, we will support you. When the right time comes, we will call on UPU. The name of the governor has reached you, take it and stand for it.
“We, the presidents general will come to open the door of Government House. Everywhere you go, you will go safely, we are all praying for you so that at the end, we will all come to Asaba”, he declared.
They demanded that the incumbent governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), should give the party ticket to Gbagi, adding that as soon as they do that, it would be their duty to deliver the job.
“This time we will not fold our hands and watch. Gbagi is our candidate and he is the one we want to liberate Delta state come 2023, we want Okowa to do the needful”, they said.
Earlier in his response, the prominent gubernatorial hopeful, Olorogun Gbagi, said: “The reason I am in this race now is not for what I will eat and not for money. There is a game to perpetually keep Urhobo down. We cannot continue like this, it is a disgraceful situation.
“A father leaves a better place for his children. We have left the situation worse than our father gave it to us. We are not going to run an Urhobo state, we are going to run a state that is Deltan. I am going to run the state as a country and run the local government as a state. I am going to generate competition. If the local governments develop, the state has developed”, Gbagi said.
Speaking further, he cautioned those using unprinted words on the governor to desist from such destructive voyage, noting that previous administrations did develop their area compared to what Okowa did for them.
According to him, “A lot of people are abusing the current governor and I disagree with them. Why do I disagree with them? The same power Okowa has to be able to develop the areas more or less he has developed.
“Okowa is not a failure, Okowa is only sensible and he has character because his father gave him character. I can tell you today, do not waste your time, Okowa will not do anything other than an Urhobo governor. Who is the Urhobo governor that he wants, his body signs not because of anything, but Okowa believes that Kenneth Gbagi will not be a thief, Kenneth Gbagi will not be a business as usual.
“In Ughelli South and Udu, I am going to bring a private aircraft maintaining company to Ughelli South and that alone, I will do 1, 200 employees in Ughelli South and its environs. The clay we have in Ughelli South can give you 40 ceramic companies. I give myself six months, I will revive the companies because I know where they are.
“Urhobos have lost a lot, God , who gave you this land is not a fool. Support Okowa, I can tell you that he means we well for Urhobo. I plead with you people to support Okowa, let nobody come to deceive you people. I like to partner with all of you as I move into Government House in 2023”, he added
Fielding questions from the PGs, the philanthropist said: “I am going to open a competition, local government by local government. I will not be governor of Urhobo people, I will be governor of Delta state. There will be a level playing ground for all to compete favourably.”
He reiterated that the issue of having lions in his house was “a game to push your best away.
“Urhobos have been disused, disrespected and cheated. You must take hold of your opportunities that will be open to you. Urhobos must rewrite their history. I will lead a level playing ground. The kings, I am going to saddle them with responsibilities”, he stressed.
