There are over 15 governorship aspirants from Delta central and south gunning for the coveted seat in Delta state. This is the seat of the governor. The governor’s seat is the most coveted seat in every state. It is the seat of power. The seat controls and determines the affairs and direction of the state. From the seat emanates policies on which the state is governed.
The occupier of the seat also controls the finances of the state. He knows how much comes in and how much goes out from all the sources of revenue accruable to the state. He determines areas of investment which will be of benefit to the state. He is at liberty to accept advice or reject despite he appoints advisers in all socio-political areas. The governor needs to be a man of integrity so as to run the affairs of the state for the good of the citizens.
But if the man behind the driver’s seat is not sincere, if he is a thief, if he is a corrupt man that cares little or nothing about the welfare of the people, such a state will be comparable to a community that has so much water but the residents bath with spittle from their mouth. Residents and indigenes would cry but such governor will give no listening ear.
Such a governor is only interested in amassing wealth for himself, his family members and his cronies. He awards contracts to his fans and collects kickbacks from them and the project executed shoddily and the people groan in pains. Such a governor is never satisfied with his pay despite all his welfare and that of his family is coming from the state treasury. That is a wicked governor.
Now, as Delta state gradually moves to a new dispensation where a new governor will be elected to take over from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Deltans must shine their eyes. The era of blindfolding our eyes with bags of rice, salt, bales of clothing, N1000 pay for joining the hired crowd of people with no vision for the state should be jettisoned. We have made such errors over the years, it’s time we stopped it.
We need to filter all the aspirants jostling for the coveted seat. We need to x-ray their financial prudence and how they got their wealth before allowing them to take over the administrative seat of power. Delta state cannot remain in the hands of people who only care for themselves and their families but come to the public with sugarcoated tongues to tell the people lies of ‘no money to make life good for the people of Delta state.”
Out of all the plethora of names who are indicating interest in the governorship, there is one that has good records of financial prudence in all the places he has done business, including government appointment. He has consistently maintained a clean financial record over the years. This is what stands him out.
Deltans must be wary of allowing corruption stained individuals into government house who will swindle the state and make away with the state resources.
When the occupier of the seat of government is a thief of public resources, that state will never know progress, the people would continue to groan for economic emancipation but the government will prefer to explain away the challenges it is facing as a way of diverting attention from the looting spree. There is no state that cannot be self sufficient but the thieves in government houses will not allow such government to breath in air of relief.
This is why in the forthcoming elections in Delta state, only one person is deemed fit to ascend the seat of power. And that man, who from all analysis is corruption free, is Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, the biggest investor and the only industrialist in the entire Delta state. We have observed Gbagi over the years to be a man of character in terms of managing money in both business and government.
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi was once minister of education (state). In one interview with journalists, he said out of all the ministers that served in Goodluck Jonathan’s government, he was the only one not invited to answer questions from the nation’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
He has lived financially unblemished life. His financial integrity is unshaken as he remains one of the stainless persons who has been in government over the years. He has also said that any Nigerian that has a case of financial impropriety against him should come forward and present his case with facts and figures. This is Gbagi.
This man possesses one of the greatest and rare credentials for a greater Delta. Delta has resources to be another Dubai if properly managed away from theft and godfatherism. Gbagi has also insisted without blinking an eye that he would transform the fortune of the state from where the incumbent governor will stop. He has established plans yo heavily industrialise the state and create jobs for the teeming unemployed, jobless and roaming youths in our state.
Gbagi said most youths in the state have moved to other climes where they think life is most comfortable and livable. He said he feels the pains of Deltans who daily yearn for daily bread and means of livelihood. That is the man Gbagi. He is interested in the welfare of the people. He has great business acumen which he will deploy into making Delta the industrial hub of Nigeria. This is the promise Gbagi has made and the man is dead ready to bring his dream to fruition and actuality.
He has promised to build low cost houses for Deltans where everyone will be housed without stress or strain. Therefore, Deltans do not need to look for someone else who has clear vision and mission for a greater and prosperous Delta.
This article was written by AUSTIN OYIBODE from Asaba
