A prominent Urhobo elder and public affairs advocate, Olorogun Zik Gbemre, has publicly challenged what he describes as an “unfounded and culturally unacceptable” claim by Chief Emuoboh Gbagi to the position of first son of the late Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.
Gbemre, who was Gbagi’s confidant until death, disclosed that the late ex-minister had other male children who are senior to Emuoboh, who currently parade himself as “heir” to Gbagi’s dynasty after the businessman’s passing.
In a strongly worded statement dated August 14, 2025, Gbemre called on Chief Faith Gbagi and Barrister Eric Gbagi—elder brothers of the late Kenneth Gbagi—to rise to the occasion and protect the unity, truth, and cultural integrity of the Gbagi family in the wake of their brother’s passing.
“George Gbagi is the eldest son of Kenneth Gbagi. Michael Gbagi is the second eldest. Emuoboh is the third. There is no dispute about this. Seniority in a family is not a matter of personal ambition—it is a matter of tradition,” Gbemre stated emphatically.
The late Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, a revered businessman, lawyer, politician, and former Minister of State for Education, passed away, leaving behind a complex family structure.
According to Gbemre, the late Gbagi fathered children from five different women—commonly referred to as “five gates.”
While each gate is traditionally entitled to equal inheritance rights, birth order plays a critical role in matters of family leadership, estate distribution, and cultural rites, especially when it comes to the eldest son, known in Urhobo as the “Okpako r’emo.”
“In Urhoboland, the first son carries ancestral responsibility. You cannot just assume that role. It is determined by birth, not by influence or self-promotion,” Gbemre wrote.
In the same letter, Gbemre also criticized the alleged return of Evelyn, a former wife of the late Kenneth Gbagi, to his Oginibo home following his death. According to him, this action—reportedly enabled by some family members—violates Urhobo taboos, especially given that Evelyn had been separated from Gbagi for years and was said to have married another man abroad.
“It is a taboo in Ughievwen and Urhobo tradition for a woman who left her husband for many years—and possibly remarried—to return to his home after his death,” Gbemre warned. Adding, he said, “She should be settled by her children elsewhere, but not in Gbagi’s ancestral home.”
Gbemre emphasized that during the late Kenneth Gbagi’s lifetime, the only woman he acknowledged and introduced to him as his wife was Justice Sybil Gbagi, who remains his only surviving legal spouse. According to Gbemre, Justice Sybil is entitled to reside in Gbagi’s home for the rest of her life and must not be displaced under any circumstances.
“She is the surviving wife of Kenneth Gbagi. Tradition accords her that place and respect. The family must protect her position and dignity”, Gbemre added.
He urged Chief Faith and Barr. Eric Gbagi, as elders of the extended family, to speak the “blunt truth” to Emuoboh Gbagi and stop any attempts to disrupt the traditional birth order.
The statement further added, “If the elders shy away from the truth, what example are they setting for the youths?” Gbemre asked. “Urhobo tradition is not for sale. The truth must be told no matter who is involved.”
