Delta
By Victor Bieni
Although the race for the 2023 Governorship is still a bit far away one of the first persons in Delta Central Senatorial district to indicate interest for the plum job is Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, a foremost Delta industrialist, lawyer, a Criminologist and a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The COALITION OF UNITED POLITICAL PARTIES IN DELTA STATE believes that since Kenneth Gbagi indicated his interest for the governorship, nobody has come out to question his qualification to run. Besides, he is from Delta Central, a senatorial district that is favoured to produce the governorship, judging from the rotational plan that has been in place since 1999. It is against this backdrop that we are worried about the spate of social media campaign of calumny against Kenneth Gbagi by those who are seemingly frightened by his towering political profile or those who feel that Gbagi’s ambition will hurt theirs.
The COALITION OF UNITED POLITICAL PARTIES IN DELTA STATE has been quite critical of the video clips making the rounds in the social media which featured some half nude girls and which have been linked to Kenneth Gbagi’s SIGNATIOUS HOTEL.
We have no doubt that these video clips were doctored to suit a particular purpose and as persons familiar with social media antics, it would be very unhealthy for us to rely on them as prima facie evidence against Kenneth Gbagi.
As a man who presides over a business conglomerate and officially recognized as the biggest investor in Delta State, it is very unlikely that he would have the time to attend to a purely mundane and trivial issues such as hotel remittances in his SIGNATIOUS HOTEL in Effurun. Those who believe such contrivances are only trying to belittle a business colossus like Gbagi.
At this stage of our political trajectory, we should be wise enough to decipher between truth and falsehood especially as it affects some of our very society’s best. In Delta State there is hardly any highly placed political or social figure who has, at one time or the other, not become a victim of social media harassment. It has now become a thriving trade in Delta State and some persons feed fat trying to defame or calumnize the high and mighty that have made a success of their business or political endeavours.
As society’s watch, the COALITION OF UNITED POLITICAL PARTIES IN DELTA STATE has always cautioned against this harmful trade and we have several times come out in defence of some of our best in Society who have fallen victim of these hirelings who target our best citizens to score some cheap political or material gain.
If truth must be told, Kenneth Gbagi remains the only formidable aspirant yet from Delta Central to indicate interest for the 2023 Governorship election and his statewide consultations so far has revealed his mass appeal andacceptance. This may well explain why some persons are jittery and have started employing every devious means to stop him from contesting for the plum job. There are also some other credentials going for Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, that makes him target for attack.
He is not known to have stolen a kobo from government. From 1999 till date he has never been an employee of the Delta State government. All the money he has made has been through personal dint of hardwork and he has carved a niche for himself in the business world. This is in contrast to some political Lilliputians wanting to contest for governorship and whose fortunes and influence have been limited to Delta State and do not have the clout that Kenneth Gbagi possesses.
It is also on record that Gbagi’s Foundation has tremendously over the years impacted positively in lives of many Deltans and beyond especially his free medical services for those with eye problems.
THE COALITION OF UNITED POLITICAL PARTIES IN DELTA STATE cautions all aspirants for the 2023 Governorship election to remain on their lane, sell their attributes to the Delta State electorate rather than try to heat up the polity by trying to pull down other fellow contestants through calumny or character assassination.
This idea of using the pictures of nude girls to implicate a highly placed person like Kenneth Gbagi is very pedestrian, crude and should be condemned in a civilized society such as ours.
As a lawyer, with vast experience in civil matters and as a former Chairman of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Kenneth Gbagi is too exposed to engage in such frivolous matters. We think by now our Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) should grow beyond the level of swallowing hook, line and sinker anything that goes on in the social media, especially issues that are used by politician to tarnish the hard earned reputation of others who are perceived to stand on their way to achieving their ambition.
ln summation, we appeal to those whose shenanigans remain to destroy others to desist from such unholy practice as it would surely boomerang against them when the real contest begins.
The 2023 Governorship contest promises to be one of issues and not personalities and Kenneth Gbagi is surely one who has put a lot on the table for Deltans to choose and not even a thousand acts of calumny will deter Deltans from making their informed choice when the time comes.
For: COALITION OF UNITED POLITICAL PARTIES IN DELTA STATE.
PRINCE HENRY J.E. EZE (JP) Secretary
COMR. EMEKA U. BIDOKWU Publicity Secretary
