Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Women and youths practically ‘hijacked’ the visit of former education minister and 2023 gubernatorial aspirant in Delta State, Kenneth Gbagi, to the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kingsley Esiso, as they thronged the Sapele venue of the meeting in their hundreds, dancing and singing solidarity songs.
The residence of Barrister Esiso and the entire neighborhood in Sapele, the administrative headquarters of Sapele Local Government Area of the state, assumed a carnival-like atmosphere yesterday as the women and youths sang and danced in expression of solidarity with Gbagi in his desire to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa come 2023.
The youths also urged the state party chairman to stand firm and ensure that the PDP gubernatorial primary was free and fair, saying that the people have “a rare opportunity to elect an entrepreneur and industrialist as the governor who will industrialize our state and create jobs for our youths.”
They said that though the visit by Gbagi to Sapele was only part of his ongoing consultations with stakeholders and PDP leaders across the state, they had stormed the place “simply to drum support for the former minister of education, lawyer, criminologist and industrialist, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi”, urging the party and Deltans to give the man the chance to transform the state.
“We want a capable governor who will industrialize Delta State and continue the good work the present governor, Dr Okowa, is doing; and, we are also calling on the governor to throw his weight behind a capable man like Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi”, one of the youths, Uroyi Agbabi, said.
Addressing his host, the governorship hopeful stressed that he was not of the mould of unwilling or reluctant leaders who were pushed into leadership position unprepared, having taken more than 20 years to prepare for this moment.
He said that as a foundation member of the PDP in Delta State, “my well-thought-out desire to govern the state will upscale the status of our great party”, saying the he was part of the founding leaders who conceived of the PDP as a platform for genuine transformation of the state through both infrastructure and wealth creation.
While commending Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for seriously opening up the state through inftrastructural and other development programmes, Gbagi said that it was critical for the state as to who took over the baton of leadership from Okowa, saying that he would partner the youths in the state as he had “a data base of what it takes to win election in the state.”
Gbagi stressed that his confidence had been boosted by the sincerity of the incumbent, who he said has amply demonstrated that he could be trusted to keep his promises.
“For the first time since 1999, we have a governor whose word is like a word from God”, Gbagi pointed out.
“I have had occasions to meet with all the governors in Delta state since 1999, and I say it without mincing words that Okowa is honest; that is the reason why you see that I am prepared. I trust that, at the appropriate time, the governor will be straight forward in his dealings because the governor means well for the people of the state.”
However, Gbagi noted that the fact that the governorship would come to Delta Central senatorial zone in 2023 should not be taken for granted, saying the people of Delta Central must take the “responsibility to partner with the other two senatorial districts” and urging the PDP leaders present to work with the state party chairman and the governor to build a stronger party.
Responding, the PDP state chairman said that Gbagi has every right to aspire to the exalted office and assured that the party would “offer a level playing field” so that the party would remain the choice of Deltans for the equitable development of the state.
“I can tell you that come 2023 there will be no imposition, the candidate of the PDP and other positions will be selected through a very free and a very fair process in what you know as primaries. And, once the (governorship) candidate emerges, I will be at the forefront to campaign for the condidate’s resounding victory at the polls”, Esiso said.
