Osibanjo’s visit: Governor Okowa attacks former education minister over unguarded statements

19.01.2017 21:43

Governor Okowa has rained knocks on Kenneth Gbagi, a former minister of state for education over his unguarded statements regarding Osibanjo's visit to Delta.

- Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has rained knocks on former minister of state for education, Kenneth Gbagi, over his unguarded statements on Osibianjo's fact finding mission

- Gbagi had dismissed Vice President visit as of no relevance to Delt, noting that his statement on oil drying up was without facts

- But Okowa took Gbagi to the cleaners, saying his response was desparaging to the office of the vice president and accusation him, the governor was wrong

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has rained knocks on Kenneth Gbagi, a former minister of state for education over his unguarded statements regarding the fact finding mission of the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo to Delta on Monday, January 16, 2017.

Osibanjo’s visit: Governor Okowa and Kenneth Gbagi on warpath

Gbagi, an Urhobo of Delta central, was reported to have disagreed with Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, who told the people of Delta on Monday that oil would soon dry up, hence Nigerians should diversify the economy in preparation for a great future.

But Gbagi, according to reports, told journalists that Osibanjo’s comments had no foundation. Rather, Gbagi said the crude oil location in the Niger Delta will last for another 100 years.

Gbagi also criticized the Vice President for visiting the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli but failed to visit any king in Urhoboland, consequently he said the Vice president took the Urhobo people for granted.

He added that Osibanjo’s refusal to visit Ughelli in Urhobo, was akin to what happened in 1971 when when former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, had scheduled a visit to the land but his secretary, an Itsekiri did not allow him to do so.

He said while looking for peace, the sensibility of Urhobo people should not be taken for granted, the Urhobo people have been taken for granted for too long in the scheme of things.

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo

The former minister blamed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy for the failure of the Vice President to visit the monarch of Ughelli. He said the visit to Ughelli was truncated by the governor and his deputy.

But Okowa, who seems to have a soft spot for the APC led federal government as against his counterparts in other PDP states, called on the people of Delta to support the federal government in its avowed commitment to bringing lasting peace to the Niger Delta.

Governor Okowa said Gbagi, a notable son of Delta who has had the privilege of serving as a federal minister, could proceed to pooh-pooh the laudable objectives of the fact-finding mission of the Vice President, a gesture described by many as a confidence building process.

He said: “I found it very disturbing that someone who should be much more concerned about how we can build more bridges of unity rooted in equity, fairness and ethnic harmony, could descend to the arena to fan the embers of ethnic disunity and hatred.

“How could anybody imagine that as a governor who had enjoyed and continue to enjoy the cooperation of royal fathers from across the different ethnic groups in the state, will take steps that will undermine the revered stool of our royal fathers, let alone taking a very well respected ethnic group like the Urhobos for granted.

"It is further condemnable for anyone to disparage the Office of the Vice President more so when the sacrifice and the efforts of the Vice President are already engendering confidence in the entire Niger Delta region.

"I must make it clear that our determination to foster lasting peace that will pave way for a genuine development of the region cannot be sacrificed on the altar of politics of convenience laced in the guise of being an ethnic champion, as a Governor, I shall continue to defend our people".