Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has revealed he is ahead of all other candidates in Delta state. In an interview with Emerald News anchored by AUSTIN OYIBODE (EDITOR) and DORCAS IZAH (Staff Writer), Gbagi spoke on why he is a better option than others. Excerpts:
What is your cutting edge that makes you distinct from other candidates in the race?
I have a history, a running battle with Kefas the former military administrator of Delta state, bordering on corruption. I’m not corruptible, I fought Kefas in favour of Delta state.
Kefas gave me everything I wanted. But he wanted us to share the whole properties, I refused. Governor Okowa knows this. He has told me once “you’re too honest to a fault.’
Okowa told me that ‘everybody is talking about you. All they are saying is that you’re too honest. Nigeria is not a very honest country, so if you stand alone as an honest man, of course you should know that you’re going to have a lot of backlash.’ This is what stands me out. None of these candidates come close to me in terms of honesty and transparency.
Where are they close? Is it academics? I became the chairman of the legal aid council of Nigeria three years post call because I was an A class person when the then president appointed me.
The president at that time (Obasanjo) actually wanted me to be a minister, but I told him that I don’t want to be a minister. I don’t think people who are actually sensible are in government.
I went to school where I was taught that a white collar job seeker is a less brainy person. So I never liked government.
When I refused be a minister with Obasanjo, the issue of chairman of legal aid came up. This office has no money, it’s poor man’s job. All you do is to help poor people and release them from prison.
I was very happy doing the job. You will see me in prisons with my white coverall. So they know that we don’t come close at all. They all know that if God were to come down now and say Mr APC governorship candidate, you and Gbagi who is better? He will say Gbagi is the best.
Ovie Omo Agege told me certain things while we were doing somethings together as individuals. He said two things to me that are unfortunately true.
The day we buried Senator David Dafinone, another great man who actually brought me into politics, Ovie Omo Agege said to me, “Uncle Gbagi, is it not time for you to realize that Okowa is a crook and a liar? Is it not time for you to know that Okowa is bedeviled to do only evil?
Okowa lied to you that he wanted your son to go to the House of Assembly. He has turned around and your son couldn’t get the ticket.
If Okowa were interested, even if heavens would break lose, he’ll get it done. Hear me now, Okowa is deceiving you. He said to me ‘please, leave this man and go your way. You’re too honest, too straight forward and too dignified a person to be working with and talking about Okowa the way you’re doing. I feel very nauseated every time I hear it.’
That was what he told me the day we buried Dafinone in Sapele”.
The second thing he told me, he said, ‘Olorogun Gbagi, you’re an enigma, you’re the only black man in the whole world that I have come to see that has refused three ministerial appointments in Nigeria, you’re something else. You ought not to be a Nigerian. I salute your style of leadership and what you believe.
To reject three ministerial positions in Nigeria is not possible. I think Guinness book of records should pick you up.
Those are things that Ovie Omo Agege said to me on that day.
If Omo-Agege were to face his God or whatever he believes in, he will tell him that Gbagi is a sounder man than me to turn around this economy, to make it a great state because of the respect and character everybody knows of me.
If Ibori were to be asked today he will tell you the same thing. If Okowa were to be asked, he will tell you the same thing. Former Governor Uduaghan called me when I moved to SDP, and said to me, Gbagi you’re the only man standing, Okowa has ruined all our lives. Look at what he has done to my daughter, my daughter couldn’t get a ticket to the house of assembly but his daughter got a ticket. Gbagi, we are with you, anytime, anyday. You are the only one who can salvage us as a people.’
I brought Ogboru back to Nigeria, and I bought him a Mercedes Benz car. Ogboru is talking to me and I believe at the appropriate time, he will join me in the campaign in the governorship race.
They all know what I can do. I am the first black man in the world to become an AKS member of rotary, over 16-22% of the world wealth is in the hand of Rotarians.
So, I have what it takes to call investors from all over the world into the country and Delta state. I have what it takes because of my character. I will turn Delta state into an industrial hub. I know what to do, they don’t know. If they knew what to do, they will have investments in the state.
I knew what to do. 30 something years ago, I was building my properties. I built Deco Road market, because I know that this place is a virgin land and it needed development.
People have said that your promises are so verbose and big and seem impossible. How will you persuade them to key into your promises?
We were talking somewhere and they told me that I am an arrogant person. It’s because of the credentials that I have that’s why people think that I am arrogant.
Obasanjo had flown from his residence and come to this my house in Oginibo. Yakubu Gowon has been to this house. Babangida has come here. Name any head of state that has not come to visit me. Not because there is anything unique about me, it’s because I have character and once you have character, it goes a long way.
Now when you say they are verbose, why would you not say my owning of Deco road is verbose. I own the biggest beverage factory in Delta as you well know. Our level of understanding of life and society is different.
It’s a matter of levels, it’s a matter of where you’re coming from. I have said I will industrialize the place. I will immediately bring back the three flower mills in Delta state. It doesn’t cost me 5% of the money that Delta state plays with every month.
Because I’m not corruptible, you cannot give me money, you cannot bribe me, so as the head, everybody who is in my government knows that we must show to the public transparently that we will exterminate corruption. And if you exterminate corruption, I can tell you, Delta state is good to go.
This year alone, Delta state has spent at least about 10billion whether cash or borrowed money to buy rice. I will grow the rice, here in Arawarien village and Isoko. We will grow rice that has the best standard. We will grow rice for Deltans to consume and all our neighboring states to consume.
The reason why expatriates and everybody ran away from the state is not because of any devilish reason but it is because there is no good government in place. I’m talking to them. They will come back to Delta state.
They didn’t drift into oblivion, they drifted into neighboring states. They are still in Nigeria and what is still in the soil in Delta state remains there.
So all they’re looking for is a secured environment. It’s to have someone whose good morning means the same thing like it is in America and Germany.
I have a German friend, Tom. The other day he was here drinking wine, That was the general manager of Julius Berger. He’s my good friend till tomorrow.
So what I’m trying to say in effect is that there’s nothing wrong with Delta state as a place. All Delta state requires is a governor that likes and loves Delta and it’s people.
