By Kenneth Orusi
Despite the permutations amongst the major aspirants in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on who should be the best candidate to take over from Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State come 2023, former minister of education, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, has shown commitment and dedication to industrialize the State and meaningfully engage the youths judging by his private business life.
To practically demonstrate this, not because he was preparing for the governorship then, 34 years ago Gbagi, a renowned entrepreneur built the Robinson Gbagi Shopping Malls 1&2 both at Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Junction and Deco Road in bid to improve the economic wellbeing of the state.
The undeniable truth, is that, based on his education, international exposure, political experience, and tremendous success during his time as education minister, where he supervised and midwifed the creation of 13 Universities, including Federal University of Lafia and eight Federal Government Colleges,16 Colleges of Education and 14 Polytechnic.
He was Chairman, Board of directors of the Delta Development and Property Authority.
He was former Chairman, Governing Council, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, where his primary occupation was the restructuring of the Criminal Justice System, prison reforms and training of lawyers and countless positions with positive outcomes.
With his wealth of knowledge, he estructured the workings of agencies such as UBE, WAEC and NTI, and, spear headed the policy of using minimum of 6-credits in WAEC at two-sittings to be eligible for admission as opposed to the infamous one-sitting or nothing.
In the history of Delta State, Gbagi is arguably the most successful private investor that has boosted the economy for the betterment of the state through his industries and investments.
One would have expected the Okowa administration and the PDP to allow him be the standard bearer of the party with imperative advantage holding to his connections.
Gbagi has the capacity to govern Delta State as he is the change agent that can promote and accelerate the development of the state.
With its enormous resources as an oil producing state and huge federal allocation, Gbagi, has what it takes to revert Delta from current 4th most indebted state in Nigeria with a total debt of more than N272.03 billion.
If elected governor, Gbagi, has promised to focus on the emancipation of our youths, industrialization, development, good governance, and enduring peace and security in Delta State in which you would find your lost item(s) if any.
When it comes to the imperatives and challenges of development in Delta State, Deltans should bet on Olorogun Gbagi, that has delivered in the past in the aforementioned positions he occupied.
Mr. Orusi, a journalist, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.
