As the clock ticks towards the governorship election, slated for March 11th, Otu-Ughievwen, the headquarters of Ughelli south local government area of Delta state, has unanimously endorsed the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi.
Politically, Otu-Ughievwen, which houses Jeremi ward II, doubles as the headquarters of the wards in Jeremi, which produced a former deputy governor, Prof. Amos Utuama.
In history, since the return of democratic government in 1999, no political party has won elections in Jeremi Ward II, except the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during a town hall meeting on Sunday February 26, 2023, Gbagi, who won the entire units in Jeremi II, Oginibo, for all SDP candidates in the just concluded presidential election and National Assembly elections, broke the age-long records to secure the endorsement of PDP stronghold in the area.
Announcing the endorsement, the President General of Otu-Ughievwen community, Michael Oghenevwweke, asked the community if Gbagi’s aspiration to govern the state should be accepted, the entire community comprising of chiefs, women, men, youths, community leaders and the executive echoed ‘yes”, before Oghenevweke said, “it has been accepted”.
He said: “The report from our father is in our hands. If you carefully look at it, Oginibo and Otu-Ughievwen are not too far from each other, we can trek the distance.
“If he is passing through this place, some evidences of his presence will drop on Otu-Ughievwen. His appeal to Otu-Ughievwen to be voted for as governor, is accepted by Otu-Ughievwen”, he declared.
Addressing the mammoth crowd at Otu-Ughievwen Town Hall, Gbagi assured them of his administration’s willingness to liberate the state from bad governance and leadership that has plagued the state under the leadership of PDP.
He charged them not to allow party politics becloud their sense of reasoning as the state is presently at a crossroad, begging for a ‘Moses” of our time to lead the state to the promise land.
According to him, Deltans particularly the Urhobo ethnic nationality, should not allow the incumbent, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to decide for the Urhobos who becomes the governor, saying “Okowa cannot choose a governor for Urhobo people.
“My visit here is not one of those visitations, I have long prepared for this but for exigencies, I decided to wait after the presidential election. Charity begins at home.
“Thousands of Nigerians who voted for Peter Obi, have not seen him. I am from Oginibo and my mother is from Idjerhe. This is the first time, an Ughievwen son since creation, will contest the governorship election in the state.
“This is not only my aspiration, it should be a collective aspiration. We should not toy with this opportunity. Let us think very deep, there’s hunger everywhere.
“Let us not make mistakes of voting for PDP and APC, because if you do, you would have voted for poverty. Okowa has destroyed the entire Urhobo nation. If everybody that is here vote for SDP, I have won the election”.
The former minister of state for education, disclosed that his administration would take education as a priority, noting that he would build a university in Ughievwen area, to cater for the academic needs of the people.
“I will restore the glory of Urhobo land. It is time for Ughievwen land to have a university. Let us do our best, talk to other people to see reason to vote massively for SDP, I promise to bring a university to Ughievwen kingdom”.
He revealed that the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP), Ken Pela, is an Ijaw man from Ogodobiri, in Burutu local government area of the state and is being allegedly sponsored by the incumbent governor, Dr. Okowa, to ruin his chances but that God has shown himself strong in the project.
He told them to locate the logo of the party, with the symbol of a white horse and thumbprint in order for them, their children and children yet unborn to be liberated from bondage.
Earlier, Chief Prince Macaulay Dase, challenged the people that Gbagi, is a philanthropist who has affected lives, including his own and if given the opportunity to be governor, would turn the state around for the better.
Also, Pastor Shell Ayoma, appealed to the people to look beyond party politics and vote massively for SDP in order to save the State from further destruction.
“On behalf of the Christians in Otu-Ughievwen, I plead with you all that we should look beyond party divide, I am a member of PDP, since 1999.
“I have been here for about 20 years , Otu-Ughievwen, please let us vote for Gbagi, to solve the problems of the State.
“This one, if God does it, if he goes to government house, Ughievwen, would be opened. The entire Urhobo nation will be developed. If the land of Otu-Ughievwen, accept, the entire Ughievwen land has agreed”, he added.
The consultative meeting was crowned with a heartwarming and spirit filled prays by the oldest man in the community, Tamukara Mukoro, for Gbagi, to emerge victorious in the March 11th election.
