The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Delta state, Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi, has disclosed that haven spent so many years in building the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), he has come to realize that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
The former minister of state for education made the disclosure when he led the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, candidates of the party vying for various positions and the National Working Committee (NWC) to the palace of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III on a courtesy visit.
The philanthropist and largest private investor, who hinted the revered traditional ruler of his political sojourn from the PDP to the SDP, lamented that a state is in total mess following the poor management of the state resources.
Hear him: “Ogiame, you are not new to Delta politics. I founded the party and I contested the first primary in 1999 and I have had stayed in the party all this while. I have come to see that there is no light in that tunnel.
“As a former minister of education, what I did is there for everybody to see. I created 13 universities within six months as a minister.
“If Chief James Onanefe Ibori went to the University of Benin and read Economics, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Dr.Ifeanyi Okowa read Medicine and these people are having difficulty, I wonder how somebody who never read at all, will come and head us.
“I decided to take the sojourn by faith by going to SDP with those who believe that they can turn the situation around. They believe that the state can be better than this. They believe that this state should be equitable and not people coming to tell stories from this side and what we are really doing is from this other side.
“I have seen it all. The governor would have been said to be one of my closet friends, I actually fought my life for him to be governor. My only problem is that I am not controllable, I am told. I don’t know why anybody would want to control me. I have come to inform you as a very revered traditional father in this state, that I have moved to the SDP and I am going to contest the election in SDP alongside with all my friends and people that believed in me.
“We seek your prayers and your understanding that you bless this mission for us if it will be for the good and the greatness of the state. We cannot live a deceitful life for the rest of our lives. I believe I have something to offer. I believe I can turn the fortune of this state around. I believe I have no blemish that would stop me from doing what I ought to do in the state”.
He tasked the monarch to dig into his life for prove his claims. “I plead with you to search who I am and my ability. This state is too wealthy for us to be poor and I believe that we have mismanaged our resources,” he added.
In his response, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III who agreed that the right people must be elected into positions of authority said Nigeria is on its way to getting it right just as he appreciated God for the uninterrupted democracy being enjoyed since 1999.
He said: “We are very grateful for the uninterrupted democracy we have enjoyed since 1999. God has a way of deepening our democratic process. On the surface, the specifics may differ but ultimately, it is playing out for the good of Nigerians whether or not we can actually see it.
“Once you know that there is healthy competition, with good alternatives, the best has to come out from each platform. I have come to understand that more Nigerians are not party members than Nigerians who are party members and I am sure often times the more Nigerians who are not party members ask themselves, can we have other parties?
“Delta state politics is critical to Nigeria. A lot of people look at Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and I dare say that the moment Delta state works, Nigeria will in turn follow and so I agree with you that Delta state has to work and produce the best.
“The leadership we need in Delta state is the one that doesn’t really see tribe and sentiments because if we do that it only has adverse effects on us and so I welcome this new development, adventure and this new journey that is on and I really pray that as we see God’s hands only the best that will come out of it for the prosperity of all Deltans.
“May God bless you, may he grant you favour, the resources that you desire. May the resources locate you. May he give you words to speak to the populace. So, I bless you and God willing, we will see the outcome and we will all be grateful for it at the end”.
