DELTA 2023 SCORECARD: WHO THE CAP FITS, GAMERS OR GAME CHANGER!
By Bion Bion
GAMERS OR GAME CHANGER!!!
…Separating the wheat from the tares…
Taking a peep into the future of Delta state, considering the past regime and the present governorship aspirants for 2023; achievements, contributions, development, job/wealth creation, security as it pertains to the growth of Deltans and Delta state in general…
In a rich man’s kingdom, there have always been different categories of people starting from the Spectators, Benefactors, and Contributors, Delta state has it all and with the state treasuries at stake, examine and spot the difference now before it is too late.
However, the hunt for a new Governor is here and the election is around the corner, but all hands have to be on deck to get it right this time, come 2023.
It is in the know that, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has laid a foundation by building good legacies for the people of Delta state but the fact remains that, “Throne are meant for the king with guts to move the state to the next level and some competitions and qualities will determine who is fit for the race and the crown. Gone are the days when mere men attend this height of Governorship as the goals and aspirations of the citizens and state are set first on the table which entails more knowledge and capacity.
Who said or think it’s going to be business as usual, might be deceiving himself as the citizens are no longer naive on what is good and worth doing for them in the state, talkless of many desired amenities and progress a state should acquire to make life easy for its citizens and as well boost the image as a state.
With the current effort of the Government of Delta state in putting the state aright as it has suffered a lot of sets back in the past except for the recent touch being given to the state in terms of development and security, which has shown the effort of the Governor to the state and its citizen. Though, not fully achieved yet to the expectation of the state for the best, as the neglect done by the past regime compared to other states irrespective of Delta state massive contribution to nation-building, many are the common deserved needs of this great state that feedeth the whole nation with its natural resources.
But believe me, come 2023, Delta state might no longer continue the business as usual style as there will be need for, “the tune to dictate its piper this time” as the cap is expected to befit the head of a great man with diverse strength and capacities in terms of Intellectuality, Financial Strength, Strong acumen, Popularity, and Acceptance, of course, a selfless Governor who has the good of Deltans and Delta state very close to his heart, one who desires the best for Delta state than himself and that person is no other person than! ….“The Musketeer”.
To this effect, the search for the Musketeer has made the present Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in his wisdom to recognized these top five PDP Aspirants as one that has the spirit of greatness and the ability to deliver Delta state to progress!!!, from their records in order to Succeed, come 2023 in no order, they include:
1. Sen. James Manager,
2. Hon. David Edevbie,
3. Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori,
4. Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro,
5. Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.
As the search goes on, the Delta 2023 race has just begun and there are rules and regulations as the battle line has been drawn, therefore we wish to set the ball rolling even as we take a critical and concise look at the “Governorship Aspirants” and the race ahead without fear or favour nor in any order, but prestigiously, as we separate the “wheat from the tares”.
In “Season one” of the “Scorecard”, we are taking a peep into the past, present, and future expectations of the Governorship aspirants who are recognized by Governor Okowa, leveraging on their individual achievements, contributions, activities and specific protective plan as it pertains to the growth of Deltans and Delta state in general.
First on our list is James Manager, who at 60 years has been a benefactor of Delta state and has not contributed much on his name, not more than what the state offers his pocket. Instead, he has been a politician benefitting from the cooking pot of the state, as a Fifth-term Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Thus, after several years of Legal Practice, became the Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area in 1991 and later served as Commissioner for Social Development from 1992 to 1993, and then Chairman of the Grassroot Development Movement between 1996 and 1998. Manager as the Pioneer Chairman of the Delta State PDP, served between 1998 and 1999 and thereafter became the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, which he hooked unto till his Election as Senator in 2003. As luck may have it, he currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power in Delta state, still benefiting from the same purse without contributing immensely to the state as he ought to.
Another Governorship aspirant in the name of Hon. David Edevbie at 57 years, is also a politician who followed the same trend, benefits from Delta state treasury as he made an entry into Nigeria’s Political Space in 1999 after he flew home from the United Kingdom to assume Office as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning under the Administration of Chief James Ibori. With his Brilliant Performance which propelled him to the National level was appointed as the Director of Finance and Administration of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization in 2007. Edevbie was later appointed as Principal Secretary during the era Umaru Musa Yar’adua (Now Late) was elected as President in 2007 until April 2010.
Again in 2015, He also was called upon to serve the Ifeanyi Okowa-led Administration as Commissioner for Finance until 2019 before he finally bagged himself the appointment of Chief of Staff to the Delta State Government, but still yet to impact a vision for Delta state and its citizens.
However, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is another politician in his early fifties (54 years to be precise), the Incumbent Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. Also, an Osubi-born Politician who started his political career as a Councillor in Okpe Local Government Council in 1996 and was elected as a Member of the Delta State House of Assembly in 2015 to represent Okpe State Constituency and was later elected as Speaker of the Sixth Assembly. After he won re-election in 2019, was unanimously returned as Speaker of the 7th Assembly making him the First Member of the House to be elected as Speaker in his Second-term, and like other aspirants still reaping from Delta state treasury, instead of giving back to the state, society and the citizens.
It is pertinent to note that good deeds don’t hide, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro at 52 hails from Oporoza, Warri South-west Local Government Area of Delta State. As a lawyer who turned Politician, was a One-time Chairman of Warri-Ijaw-Itsekiri Grassroot Peace Front.
With an impressive performance, he earned himself an appointment as Special Assistant on Community Affairs to the then Governor James Ibori in 2005, later served as Commissioner representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality on the Board of DESOPADEC from 2011 to 2014. Otuaro also became the Deputy Governor of Delta State in May 2015 still serving till date, what an entitlement for him reaping since 2015 to date, yet to contribute personally to the state and its citizen.
With the dancing steps of all the governorship aspirants, one could easily ask a vital question, “will this cap actually fit one!” But the true question that should be running on the mind of Deltans should be, “Will the messiah be among these aspirants, and who will be that messiah”!
There is a saying, “By their fruit you shall know them.” It is left for Deltans to desire progress and separate the wheat from the tares by choosing the right candidate who has the intellectual power, financial capacity, uncommon zeal to deliver Delta state and Deltans to progress. The man with the key to a successful and great Delta state who is ready to leverage on Governor Okowa’s legacy to fast-track Delta state infrastructurally, and security-wise to the expected level, irrespective of the hurdles already on the way to the promised land for Delta state.
Unlike other Governorship aspirants, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi in a nutshell is a man of many parts, an intellectual, a disciplinarian, a giver, an employer of labour, creator of wealth opportunity, derives joy in youth and women empowerment, a nation builder, and a statesman with a pleasant personality.
Professionally, Gbagi is a lawyer, criminologist, a diplomat having worked in many embassies, has his Lifestyle around building individuals, state, and nation. Gbagi has made lots of impact on Deltans and Delta state in general with his home based philosophy, established his root in his community despite being born and brought up in the urban city of Sapele. He maintains cordial relationships and good rapport with his community people in his country home, Oginibu town in Ughelli South of Deĺlta state for over 30 years.
It may interest you to know that, Gbagi as a household name enjoys visiting home unlike other aspirants, and believes in equality of humans, does not segregate against anybody, be you rich or poor, no matter your tribe or state which makes him “a man of the people”. He believes in the welfare provision of his people especially the youths and this prompted him to make provision for scholarships to the youth of his community irrespective of class.
Coming to Wealth/Job creation, unlike other aspirants, Kenneth Gbagi is one personality that is rated very high in terms of wealth and job creation. He has built many Businesses/commercial infrastructures in Delta state which have provided opportunities for people, especially the youths to become gainfully engaged in businesses and craft as his policy does not encourage, “Giving fish which is not sustainable instead teaching one how to fish” because giving fish is not sustainable and that made him create wealth opportunities by building businesses infrastructures like plaza (PTI PLAZA) located opposite Signatious hotel, shopping malls, hotels to mention but few.
The Robinson plaza in Deco road, Warri, a very popular plaza which has turned into a business hub in Warri and can be likened to computer village of Lagos, encompasses all telecommunication items for instance; laptops, computers, telephones, etc and has existed for over 30 years and Delta state has been benefitting from it in terms of revenue and employment. And this has provided means of livelihood for the young people of Delta state especially Warri.
His Business/Career life shows that Gbagi is an acute and shrewd businessman, who is also into oil and gas, a hotelier, also owns the GK Guest house and most popular one called Signatious hotel formerly known as Golden Tulip Hotel located in Warri (Delta), Abuja and Lagos, which is the biggest hotel in Warri and other urban cities. He is also into real estate business, which has created another employment opportunity for many people in the state unlike other Governorship aspirants who are dependent on Delta state treasury as full-time politicians and does not do any other thing rather than depending on the government for their daily bread, have never created any employment opportunity for the people of Delta state instead, they live on Delta state treasury. Gbagi is also into the aviation business, the only PDP governorship aspirant among all other aspirants known before 1999 with businesses that have created wealth/ job opportunities for many people of Delta state especially the youths and women. Again, Gbagi does not give you fish to eat but believes in teaching you how to fish, which is sustainable.
Other PDP Governorship aspirants have no business of their own, while Gbagi remains the only PDP Governorship aspirant among others that can leverage on Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa legacy using his business intelligence and experience, which has kept him very successful in life to build the state economically and infrastructurally stronger as Gbagi’s image portrays progress for Delta state. And those trying to dent his image, have already seen him as the messiah in the waiting for Delta state as – “Darkness is always afraid of the light”.
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi as an independent man believes not in Godfatherism have financial and infrastructural growth in mind for Delta state, and will not give room for continuous negative vibes in Delta State.
It will be pertinent to avail the bank details of all aspirants from 1999 to ascertain who is fit to move Delta State to the promised land, as a leader can only give what he has in stock in terms of attitude, deliveries, progress and Gbagi from the mist of all aspirants have the capacity to deliver Delta state from the tiger’s den and lead them to the promised land and the expected end will be worth it as Gbagi is a great opportunity to move Delta state forward ever.
At the end of day, Gov Ifeanyi Okowa is the person driving PDP activities in the state, the knife and the yam is with him because the PDP structure in the state is directly under his armpit.
But Delta state in Gbagi’s hand is a safe landing for progress!
Come Delta 2023: Think Gbagi, Think Delta Progress!
Come Delta 2023: Think Gbagi, Think Delta Progrecss!
