Delta 2023: Epic Conflict of Interest as Gbagi Takes Lead to End Nepotism, Godfatherism in Delta State
By Ezekiel Karbala
Conflict of interest arises when private interests of a politician clash or coincide with public interest.
This was the trajectory of a Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi who has moved against political corruption of handpicking and imposing aspirants for the 2023 Governorship seat in Delta State.
As the first to declare his aspiration to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as governor of Delta State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, he was firm on his feet in the Governorship race.
Gbagi clinched endorsements from several personalities including top party leaders, national leaders, community stakeholders, and the governor’s late father, Pa Okowa.
Some persons who perceived that Gbagi Will not join them to hide under an umbrella to loot Delta State ended up with plots to pull him down to his knees, they failed woefully.
They went as far as preventing him from attending Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s meeting with ad hoc delegates, despite being elected as a delegate. It seems as if it was a plot to end his political carrier like those who contested and lost.
According to the legendary Mexican revolutionary who once said, “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” Why do either when you can ride on a horse?
They felt that they have conquered Delta State after Gbagi wrote a protest letter on 25th, May 2022 and stepped down from the race on the eve of the PDP primary election.
Gbagi, however, proved to them that; his determination to liberate Delta State from poverty, economic decay, and backwardness was greater than selfish interest of any leader who is currently privileged.
He proved to them that, the hotness of the teacup cannot burn a tree in the forest. Rather, the tree that refuse to bow to the wind will be uprooted by it. This is already evident, Governor Okowa is already reaping some results and sad consequences of working against his father's wish for Gbagi to govern Delta State.
Gbagi has bounced back to reckoning on the platform of the Social Democratic Party SDP when he emerged unopposed as the SDP Governorship Candidate during the primary of the party.
Deltans could see clearly that the vision for greater Delta State by Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi is bigger and great than nepotistic dictates and clannish considerations.
He has left the Umbrella of mediocrity to ride on the horse to confront and conquer poverty in Delta State.
Even if Governor Okowa desire to remain influential as a policy-maker and economic driver in Delta state beyond 2023, He cannot impose his choice on Deltans as Gbagi has broken the chains of Godfaherism.
