By Our Correspondent
A group, Crusade for Democracy and Good Governance, CDGG, yesterday, described as petty and mischievous, media reports credited to former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi that Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama should quit politics in 2015.
Gbagi in the reports had told the Deputy Governor to drop his governorship ambition and bid himself goodbye from politics on grounds that he is over 70 years
But the group, in a statement by its President, Mr. Gabriel Choba said Gbagi’s comments were least expected and unbecoming to someone who is aspiring to become the governor of Delta State.
The statement described the Deputy Governor as a man of impeccable character and worthy son of Urhobo nation whose contribution to the unity and development of the Urhobo nation and Delta State at large are widely acknowledged by all.
According to the statement, “Utuama has not decided whether or not to contest for governorship in 2015, but even if he decides to do that, will the gubernatorial election be held in only Ughelli South or the ward where the Deputy Governor and Gbagi are from in Delta State that has 25 local government areas?
“As a lawyer, one would have expected Gbagi to know that there is nowhere in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria where it is stated that people who are in their late 60s and 70s cannot contest elective positions.
“Our revered Elder Statesman Chief E. K Clark at whose instance Gbagi was appointed as Minister of State for Education is an octogenarian and he is still making invaluable contributions to the growth, development and stability of democracy in the country. We all know that Nelson Mandela was well over 70 years when he became President of South Africa and today he is the most celebrated African leader globally”.
Continuing, the statement said: “It is amazing that godfatherism which has been identified as one of the biggest problems of our democratic rule is what Gbagi is canvassing for. Anyway, what do you expect of a governorship aspirant who at this critical time when the unity of the Urhobo nation is the dream of any well meaning Urhobo son and daughter, is championing the balkanization of Ughievwen kingdom where he hails from?
The statement noted that “rather than soliciting wise counsel from the Deputy Governor, a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) who was his lecturer at the University of Lagos, Gbagi has resorted to campaign of calumny against Utuama.
