PRESS STATEMENT
The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the March 18th 2023, election in Delta State, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi FNIM, OON, has taken the Chief Strategist to the State Governor, Festus Goziem Okubor, to the cleaner for attempting to challenge his education credentials.
A write-up credited to Okubor, titled: “LIKE GBAGI, LIKE TRUMP. GAG GBAGI”, casted aspersion on the sacred and cherished certificate Gbagi obtained from Manuel L. Quezon University in the Philippines many years ago.
In the write-up, Okubor said: “at this moment of doubt about foreign degrees, Gbagi might need to really give us information on his academic antecedents”.
While the above statement is not only insulting but demeaning of a man dreaded by no less a person of Air Commodore (retired) Ibrahim Kefas, one time military administrator of the State, who wanted him to share humongous N940 million proceeds of Delta Development Property Authority (DDPA), he raked into government coffers, less than two weeks of being appointed the Board Chairman.
But Gbagi, rejected the money not minding the N214 million bounty attached as benefit from Kefas.
I’m cock sure if this carrots were to be thrown at Okubor, he might have grabbed it with his entire life. Well, this is a story for another day.
To put the record straight, however, Gbagi’s Bachelor and Master’s Degree obtained from Manuel L. Quezon University, in 2010, a Philippine official in Nigeria, Ambassador Nestor Padalhin, acknowledged simply because Gbagi, who graduated from the institution, has made them proud.
Following this development, the ambassador co-hosted the third annual convention of the Philippine Graduates Association of Nigeria (PHILGRAN), and invited Gbagi to the event held at the Aso Hall of the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja.
At the Dinner and Awards Night on November 13, same year, the Special Guest of Honor was Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
Other Guests of Honor included formers Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Minister of Aviation Fidelia Nzeze, Minister of State for Education and Manuel L. Quezon University graduate, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi and Engineer Charles Mbanefo.
The dinner and conferment of awards to outstanding Nigerian graduates of the Philippines, Amb. Padalhin in his keynote address, congratulated Gbagi and other Nigerians who graduated from Philippine Colleges and Universities.
He also expressed pride that Nigerians who graduated from Philippine Colleges and Universities are active in the public and private sectors in Nigeria, citing Olorogun Barr. Gbagi and Anthony I.B. Akah.
The above, is to put things in their right perspective, rather than Okubor, whose aim is to misguide and misinform the general public on the revered certificate of a spotless man, instead of responding to the very pressing issues raised by the SDP governorship candidate, in a bid to shy away from the many allegations of forgeries levelled against his employer and State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, rather resorted to blackmail and a “gag order”, to subtly stop the truth, indicating that there might be “skeleton in the cupboard”.
The name Gbagi, is not only a household name but a trademark which Okubor tried to use to score cheap popularity for himself, by playing to the gallery and picking up the jobs of social media boys.
Okubor as a Rotarian, should know better that the club parades professionals and academicians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen profession and career, a class Gbagi belongs to haven donated $250, 000 to rotary international as the only black man to fight polio in the world over, an act that gave him international recognition.
The truth, no matter what is done to cover it, or how many years it might be hidden, will eventually come out one day.
All things been equal, Okubor, is not qualified to be Gbagi’s gardner as the best appointments he has held are Chief Of Staff, Delta State Government, Chairman, Delta State Hospital Management Board, Commissioner, Ministry of Health
Delta state and the latest demoting position, Chief Strategist to the State Governor.
As one of those politicians who cannot survive outside politics, shamelessly accepted it rather than give it to one of his boys if at all he has any as he is not a rallying point in his own Ute-Erumu.
Gbagi, has maintained that he “speaks to facts”, so Okubor’s advise on “subjudice”, is nothing but worthless, as he may have been armed with his facts.