By Badmus Shina
Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has divulged his plan to join the Delta State governorship race come 2023.
Gbagi, who is a business mogul, made this known to pressmen in Oginibu, his country home in Ughelli South of the state, on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.
He said he had been preparing for over 20 years for this cause and come 2023, he was sure he would be elected governor of the state.
The former minister disclosed that he would be taking his cause on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
He disclosed that he had started consulting, putting things in place that would assure his victory.
Gbagi said that he is a successful businessmen, and would have no occupation in pilfering the state’s coffer, but would change Delta State for good.
While making his manifesto known, Gbagi didn’t rule out the fact, as according to him, that Governor Okowa of the state was doing great for the state. Gbagi however affirmed that he was the next to take over from Okowa.
Speaking on zoning formula of governorship in the state, Gbagi said that PDP did not zone their party ticket to ethnic groupings in the state, but to Senatorial District.
According to him, “In 1999 to 2007 my senior brother, Chief James Ibori, former governor of the state (Delta Central), 2007 to 2015 my dear friend, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta South), former governor of the state, now Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the incumbent governor of Delta state, from (Delta North). So for fairness and equity, come 2023 is the turn of Delta Central to produce the next governor in the state.”
While responding to a question whether it was not too early to start campaigning for governorship interest when the present government was just settling down having obtained victory in its legal battles, Gbagi said he was not campaigning but doing consultation ahead of 2023.
He emphasized that he was very much ready for the task and when the time comes for campaign, he will campaign but for now he was only consulting friends and leaders in the state.
According to him, “As you have known we have started consultation with a view of helping my friend Dr. Okowa Ifeanyi, who I strongly believe is doing a fantastic job, given the environment and what is before him.
“When he finishes and by the grace of God, he will finish stronger than he started, we will take over from where he stopped and build the all duties, project and responsibility as he has started,” he said.
Gbagi encouraged unity and togetherness in Delta state among Deltans and challenged the people to stand against crime, oppose evil and do all it takes to get Delta State to its rightful position.
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