The gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Delta state, Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi, has disclosed the reasons he selected Chief Mrs Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary as his running mate for next year’s governorship election.
Speaking on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit on the Okpaluku of Obiaruku, Ukwauni local government area of the state, the former minister of state for education, disclosed that he nursed the idea while he was still in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as an aspirant but it was botched by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He disclosed that Obiaruku and the entire Ndokwa nation played a major role in the emergence of Olorogun Felix Ibru as governor of the state.
He added that in the entire Ndokwa nation, Obiaruku, which is the administrative headquarters of Ukwauni local government area, takes the lead among the other two local government areas of Ndokwa west and east.
“This business where governorship candidates are trooping to Ndokwa nation to select their deputy governorship candidates, I started it.
“I told Okowa that Ndokwa nation is too backward, it is part of Delta state. I told him that we should bring out our deputy governor from the area.
“You know it started from Central to South and North senatorial districts. I approached the governor that now that we want to do politics again, we should go to Ndokwa nation to get our deputy governor.
“About a year ago when I wanted to start, I told him that I want to name my deputy governor from Ndokwa nation but he asked me to wait.
“Whatever you see them doing, they copied it from me but as God will have it, they chose their deputy governor from other local governments.
“But for you to know yourselves, Obiaruku is the center of civilization of the Ndokwa nation. I know what Obiaruku people did for Olorogun Felix Ibru to emerge governor.
“You won’t leave your own and vote for another because they chose their deputy governor from Ndokwa nation but they didn’t believe that Ukwauni is suitable for the deputy governor.
“I Know that secret, that Ukwauni is ahead of the other local governments. So, it is because of that I chose my deputy governor from Obiaruku.
“The entire Ndokwa nation has no business being in darkness with the gas and petroleum products God has deposited in this land. It is enough for the Ndokwa nation to become an industrial hub, I will fix it’, he promised.
Continuing, Gbagi said: “I will come back here in thanksgiving to tell Obiaruku and the Ndokwa nation the projects I have brought for the people.
“As we have come here today, you are sending your daughter, who is my deputy with the SDP mission to go and liberate Delta state. We are liberating the state, where teachers will be paid their salary, where pensioners and retirees will be paid their entitlements and where we will bring industries across Delta state.
The largest employer of labour in the state lamented the current state of Delta, saying that the state looks like a local government.
“We want to return Delta state to glory, we want to bring back our industries that are down and those that have relocated because of hopelessness, we want to bring them back”, he assured.
Meanwhile, the Okpaluku, a 105 years old custodian of the laws and customs of the land prayed for the governorship candidate of SDP, Olorogun Gbagi and his running mate, Chief Mrs. Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary, to have a successful election.
According to him, “it shall be well with you, may your aspiration to become the governor of Delta state, come to pass”.
Fielding questions from the gathering on Gbagi’s plans to end the herders/farmers clashes, Gbagi assured that herders/farmers clashes would end on the day of his swearing in.
Proffering solution to the menace, the Criminologist said: “Allowing cows to stray about will never happen in my government. I will build in all my borders abattoir for those who will sell cows for us and for those who will come to buy.
“I will not see cattles in my streets. In developed world, you will not see cattle walking in the street. Why is our own different?, he queried.
Gbagi was accompanied on the visit by the South-south Vice Chairman of SDP, Elder Fred Owotorofa, the state chairman of SDP, Ambassador Oke Idawene, the Vice Chairman, Delta Central Senatorial District and Central Coordinator, Gbagi Campaign Council, Comrade Mike Dugbo.
Others are the Director General, Gbagi Campaign Council, Prof. Jeff Mokobia, the Deputy Director General, Hon. Taga Nikoro, Ughelli North LGA Chairman, Pastor Amos Osiki, Ughelli South LGA Chairman, Onome Okwa, Ethiope East LGA Chairman, Hon. Ofafe Stephen, Sapele LGA Chairman, Mike Abiri, Burutu LGA Chairman, Chief Gabriel Ibede, State Secretary, Comrade Matthew Luya, SDP Youth Leader, Delta State among other teeming supporters.
It would be recall that in July 2022, Gbagi unveiled Chief Mrs. Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary, a Data Sales Consultant with MTN as his deputy come 2023.
Gbagi had told His Royal Majesty (HRM), Uzeuku Isaac P. O. U Obi, the Oduosa of Utagba-Ugbe kingdom in Ndokwa west local government area of the state that under the former platform, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), he had wanted to announce his running mate from Ndokwa nation since last year but was stopped by Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa before PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC) trooped there to pick their running mates.
He assured that with the unveiling of Chief Mrs. Rosemary, as his Deputy governorship candidate, the political injustices that the area has been subjected to for years, has come to an end.
