Dozens of youths under the umbrella of Obidient movement on Thursday hit the country home of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party SDP, Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi.
The youths, who came in different groups, pledged total solidarity with the SDP candidate, saying Gbagi is the most credible candidate whose personality aligns with Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
The youths said the Obidient movement was formed to pull Peter Obi through to the presidency and now that the presidential election is over, the body is pointing its searchlight on a governorship candidate whom it could support irrespective of party affiliation.
The youths, who came from Udu and Okpe local government areas of the state, said they have found Gbagi worthy in character, competence and integrity which are typical character inherent in Peter Obi.
One of the team leaders from Okpe local government, Prince Ufuoma Ejakpozo, told journalists after a meeting with Gbagi at Oginibo, the candidate’s country home, that his team would key into Gbagi’s programme and mobilise Deltans around them to vote for him.
“We are looking for someone to lead Delta state. This is one of the biggest states in Nigeria. Despite being the largest state we are backward, so we need an intelligent candidate with foresight to handle the governance of Delta state,” the Obidient leader said.
He said the People’s Democratic Party PDP candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, is not qualified to be governor.
He said his selection criteria dwells on integrity, competence and capacity, noting that the PDP candidate lacks these qualities, hence he cannot be governor of a state as vast and complex as Delta.
Okugbene Peters, a leader of a group of youths who defected from Labour Party to SDP in Udu local government, told Gbagi that their foray into Labour Party had ended having voted for Peter Obi in the presidential election.
Clement Omosume, leader of a group of youths, Supporters for Good Governance in Delta (SGGD), said his team was in Oginibo in solidarity with Gbagi.
“We are here to pledge our loyalty to Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi. We have different groups that make up the SGGD. Our aim is to work for good governance in Delta state. We accept people from all political parties, provided they have good intention for Delta state.
“We also support people with good intentions for Delta state. We don’t segregate anybody. Gbagi is a nice man. He shows people love. We will do our best to make him governor. With the way he does things if he becomes governor, Gbagi will change Delta for good.”
While reacting to many challenges raised by the youths, Gbagi announced that his government will run with at least 10 youths as commissioners in his cabinet. This 10 youths will comprise males and females.
For those who raised issues of high tuition fees in Delta higher institutions, Gbagi noted that his administration will run a free education system from the primary to the university level.
Gbagi, who surprised the youths by saying he has rejected three ministerial appointments, noted that administrators of the present Delta state lacked the technical knowledge to develop the youths of the state.
Gbagi revealed that Delta is richer than 42 countries in the world, hence there is enormous wealth which is being mismaged by the current government authorities.
He said 82 percent of people in the present government are technologically blind, consequently they do not know how to maximize opportunities to create wealth for Deltans.
He explained that his administration will establish firms that would produce goods which will be exported to other countries of the world. He added that Delta was many years ago better than Lagos before it was ruined by successive PDP leaders.
As an entrepreneur, he said cucumber business alone could fetch N200bn for Delta state within a year. He added that he would pay unemployed youths N30k monthly.
He told the youths that he has no interest in stealing government money, saying he is rich already, hence his interest is the welfare of the people of Delta state.
“There’s money here in Delta. And because of that I’m in a hurry to build refinery in Delta. I have three offers to build refinery. You can’t take oil from Delta and no refinery here.
“You can’t bribe me. What am I doing with your money! I have money. I want to make 10 youths as commissioners. We must surpass Lagos within the first four years.
“My state will run power 24 hours. I’m going to change things. We can power every LGA with one container each. It is cruel for you to run a govt and your people are in darkness. Let us change our mindset. We can together make a difference.”
Gbagi drew a loud applause from the youths when he said he would convert the state technical college in Sapele to a full fledged polytechnic.
“We must take decisions that will favour us as Deltans. As soon as I become governor, stealing in Delta will be over.”
