Battle for Delta Governorship 2023: Eyes on Gbagi, Omo-Agege as Gladiators With notable Credentials

Battle for Delta Governorship 2023: Eyes on Gbagi, Omo-Agege as Gladiators With notable Credentials

Edging close to the 2023 Governorship, the political arena has been awash with uneasy consultations, reluctance and bickering, those who may likely contest for the number one seat of Delta State come 2023 to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Arthur  Okowa. A lot of comparisons appear daily in the main stream media, social media and some community media.

Political activist, Comrade Onoriode Felix said;  "I read through the profiles of  some of the likely candidates who will contest the 2023 Governorship in both PDP and APC  and I laughed because most of  the candidates are not closed to the seat  of power at all. In short, some of them do not have what it takes to win a Local Government Elections talk less of Governorship seat of Delta State".

Onoriode in his opinion posited that among numerous candidates who are potential contestants, only two could be singled out as viable. One is Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi of PDP and the other is Senator Ovie Omoagege of APC.

"These two are the giants in the game, therefore an objective comparison of the two may be required so that Deltans will know where to pinch their tent".

"Firstly, Olorogun Gbagi is a foundation member of PDP and since then he has remained fervent, consistent and viable in the activities of the party. He has not decamped once, his consistency is very glaring to the extent that the  party leaders can attest to it. Senator Ovie Omoagege is not a foundational member of APC. Since he came into politics through the influence of his late father, he has moved from  one political party  to the other to the  extent that some schools of thought in Delta State nick-named him as a "political parties jumper". 

"Secondly, Olorogun Gbagi was a former Minister of State for Education during President Good luck Jonathan's regime. As a former Minister, he established 13 universities, one in each state that was without a Federal University and that was what gave birth to Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effrun. Coupled with that, he presented a memo for  14 Polytechnics and 16 Colleges of Education which was approved by federal exco. The idea was that at least a Federal Polytechnic and College of Education must be sited in each State that did not one.   Apart from this, a good number of secondary Schools were also established. The universities took off immediately and have graduated different sets of graduants. In addition, the institutions provide jobs for thousands of Nigerians today. Senator Omoagege also a vibrant senator, has only attracted one Federal Polytechnic to Delta State which is being sited in his home town, Orogun community. It is been rumoured that the Federal Polytechnic was part and parcel of the one approved for Delta State during Gbagi's regime as a minister".

"Thirdly, Olorogun Gbagi is a great industrialist that is well known in Nigeria and the world at large.  His shopping mall  plazas alone provide means of livelyhood to numerous Deltans and also people from other parts of the country. Couple with this, Gbagi has alot of Five  Star hotels and other industries cut across the country. In short, in every nook and cranny of Delta State, Gbagi's industrial  presence is well  felt". 

"As for Omoagege, no single establishment in the state. In fact, Deltans can bear witness that, Senator Omoagege's presence is not felt in Delta State as far as establishment of industry is concerned".

"Fourthly, Gbagi made his money through hard work bequitted on him by his late father. History has it that, he engaged himself as a molue conductor in Lagos in his University days  in order to raise money to pay his school fees  in Unilag.  After graduation, he launched himself into private business and today he is one of the greatest investors in Delta State and Nigeria at large. Going through his profile, one can see that Gbagi did not make his money from politics or through obtaining contracts from governments. He made his money by the Grace of God and through  hard work".

"Senator, Omoagege on the other hand, made his money through political manovring. Senator Omoagege, though a vibrant senator, he jumps from one party to other in order to make a living".

"Gbagi understands the economy based on the fact that he is a successful industrialist. Without mincing words, he knows how to attract industries to the state.  Gbagi as Governor, will make the youths know that there is dignity in labour because majority of them will be employed in one company or the other".

"Gbagi and Omoagege are both lawyers. None of them is practicing at the moment. Both of them are  learned men of the bench. Gbagi is both a politician and lawyer while Omoagege is only a politician".

"To crown it all, Gbagi is a bonafide urhobo man. Paternally, he  is from Oginibo in Ughelli South Local Government Area while  maternally, he is from Jesse in Ethiope West. He is an unblemished urhobo man. Senator Omoagege could be referred to as a half urhobo man. His father is from Ugono Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area while his mother hails from Itsekiri".

"Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has done well as a Governor especially in the area of roads construction. Now, what Deltans want is someone who understands the economy and can establish industries where our youths can be gainfully employed".

"Therefore, a critical look at the objective and unbiased  analysis of the strengths  and weaknesses of both Olorogun Gbagi and Senator Omoagege, shows that Gbagi surpassess Omoagege in different facets. The score cards presented revealed that Olorogun Gbagi has touched the lives of Deltans and Nigerians through his numerous industries". 

"In conclusion, Delta should start making up their minds about the candidacy of Gbagi or Senator Omoagege as Governor come 2023".