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Tag: Kenneth Gbagi

  • Gov. Oborevwori, Fayemi, Kachukwu others, pay tribute to late Gbagi

    Gov. Oborevwori, Fayemi, Kachukwu others, pay tribute to late Gbagi

    Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, former Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti,  former Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu, friends and associates on Thursday eulogised late Kenneth Gbagi, who died on May 4.

    Gbagi, who was married to Justice Sybil Gbagi and father to nine children, died at 62 years after a brief illness.

    At the Night of Tributes in honour of late Gbagi, a former Minister of Education, the trio, friends and associates described the deceased as a detribalised and dogged gentleman.

    Oborevwori, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Johnson Erijo, said that Gbagi was a patriot and an illustrious son of the Urhobo nation.

    He said that the late astute industrialist and legal luminary was a pathfinder, a conscientious public servant and a politician of refute.

    Similarly, former Gov. Fayemi, said: “Kenneth, as I call him, was a dependable and dogged politician.

    “Once he calls you a friend. Then be rest assured that he will fight your battle for you.

    “He was instrumental to the establishment of a federal university and a federal college in Ekiti while I was the governor, and I will never forget him for that.”

    For Ibe Kachukwu, Gbagi was God fearing, bold and goal getter.

    “He lived for just 62 years but had achieved what would have taken him 100 years to achieve,” the former minister said.

    Other associates and friends who graced the event, described Gbagi’s demise as a huge loss to Urhobo nation and the nation considering his contribution in politics, governance and the private sector.

    Gbagi, from Oginibu in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta, was born on Sept. 22, 1961.

    He bagged Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminology at the Emmanuel L. Quezon University in the Philippines.

    To sharpen his skills, he returned to Nigeria and studied law at the University of Lagos, proceeded to the Nigeria Law School, Lagos Campus, and was called to the bar upon graduation.

    Rather than waiting for a white collar job, Gbagi ventured into business and established Geekos Security Nigeria Ltd and served as its chairman.

    This company provided the foundation for the Gbagi’s conglomerate such as the GKO Properties Ltd; The Robinson Gbagi Shopping Mall 1 & 2 and The Signatious Hotel Suites Ltd.

    Others are Geekos Investment Ltd; GKO Group of Companies, Nayee Group of Companies, Falcon Bay Energy Ltd and Keneth O. Gbagi & Associate, where he served as the head of the chamber.

    He was one of the founding members of the People Democratic Party in Delta and was a governorship aspirant for the 1999 and 2007 PDP gubernatorial primary elections.

    The late Gbagi was also the governorship candidate under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the 2023 election in Delta.
    He served as a minister of education in 2010 where he supervised and midwifed the creation of 13 federal universities and eight Federal Government Colleges.

    Other dignitaries at the event included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi and former Gov. James Ibori of Delta.

    Others were the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung and SDP National Chairman, Mr Shehu Gabam.

  • Gov Oborevwori mourns ex-Minister Gbagi

    Gov Oborevwori mourns ex-Minister Gbagi

    Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta has expressed his heart-felt condolences to the family of former Minister of Education (State), Chief Kenneth Gbagi, who died on May 4.

    The Governor’s condolence is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, on Sunday in Asaba.

    He recalled that Gbagi was a senior lawyer, businessman, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the 2023 general election and industrialist.

    “He (Gbagi), passed on at 62, after a brief illness.”

    Oborevwori described the passing of Gbagi as tragic, unfortunate and heart-wrenching.

    He commiserated with the people of Ughelli South Local Government Area and Oginibo community, in particular, over the demise of the renowned politician and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain.

    He noted that the departed Gbagi, a Criminologist, entrepreneur and lawyer, was Chairman, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, and, later, Minister of Education (State) during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the passing of a renowned politician and astute businessman, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, who passed on in Lagos on Saturday.

    “The news of his death came to me as a terrible shock and my heart-felt condolences go to his family, the people of Oginibo and the members of the Social Democratic Party,” Oborevwori said.

    He prayed God to accept Gbagi’s soul and grant fortitude to the family and friends he left to bear the loss.

  • Gbagi family breaks silence over ex-Minister’s death

    Gbagi family breaks silence over ex-Minister’s death

    The family of Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has opened up on the death of the former Minister of State for Education.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Gbagi, a governorship candidate in the 2023 general election in Delta State, died on Saturday at an hospital in Lagos State.

    A statement signed by his eldest son, Chief Emuoboh Gbagi confirmed the death of the renowned criminologist, senior lawyer and industrialist.

    The statement reads: “It is with profound sadness but gratitude to God, that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and brother, Olorogun (Barr.) Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, FNIM, OON; Former Minister of Education, who departed this life on the 4th of May 2024 at the age of 62.

    “We take comfort in the fond memories of his life, his achievements, and the impact he made on the lives of countless individuals and communities. We kindly request your thoughts and prayers for our family during this challenging time of loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace”.

  • Ex-Gov Ibori mourns Kenneth Gbagi

    Ex-Gov Ibori mourns Kenneth Gbagi

    Former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori has expressed sadness over the death of former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Gbagi, candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Delta, died on Saturday.

    Describing Gbagi as a very courageous politician, Ibori said the life of the former Minister was one of selfless service and sacrifice for the greater good.

    In a statement obtained by TNG, Ibori wrote:

    “With a heavy heart, I mourn the passing of my dear friend and brother, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.

    “Olorogun was a very courageous politician and a fierce advocate of good governance.

    *Delta State has lost a true statesman and servant of the people.

    “Olorogun Gbagi’s commitment to uplifting our State and its citizens were unimpeachable.

    “His life was one of selfless service and sacrifice for the greater good.

    “While he has departed this world, Olorogun Gbagi’s shining legacy and example will forever light our path.

    “We mourn this irreplaceable loss, but take solace that his life’s work has made an indelible impact on our State.

    “On behalf of my family, I say farewell Olorogun Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi – you will be forever missed and honoured”.

    TNG reports details of Gbagi’s demise are still very sketchy as at the time of filing this report.

    The 62-year-old criminologist and attorney of the Nigerian bar was the governorship candidate of SDP in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Delta State and a former Minister of State for Education.

    Born at St Elizabeth Catholic hospital, Ogodo/Cemetery Road, Sapele, Delta State, on September 22, 1961, Gbagi attended Bishop Johnson Memory Primary School, Sapele. At 14, he left for Kosofe Secondary School, Mile 12 in Lagos.

    After his secondary education, Gbagi worked with a Foreign Service before travelling abroad to further his education. While in Hong Kong, he shot a movie titled The Birth of Hong Kong in 1993. This gave him some money to pay his tuition fee at Sans Thomas University in the Philippines, where he read political science. He left Sans Thomas University and graduated as a criminologist from the Philippine College of Criminology.

    Gbagi returned to Nigeria for his National Youth Service (NYSC) and served at the Police College in Ikeja, where he taught criminology.

    He later went back to School and made distinction at the faculty of law, University of Lagos. He was the youngest lawyer ever to head the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.

    His investments in Nigeria include GKO Group of Companies, Geekos Investments, Signatious Hotels, and Robinson Shopping Plaza in Warri.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Minister of State, Kenneth Gbagi reportedly dead

    BREAKING: Ex-Minister of State, Kenneth Gbagi reportedly dead

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) indicates that former Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi is reportedly dead.

    Gbagi, a prominent Deltan contested in the last gubernatorial election in Delta State. According to several reports, he died in a Lagos State hospital after a brief illness.

    Details are still very sketchy about his death as at the time of filing this report.

    The 62-year-old criminologist and attorney of the Nigerian bar was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Delta State and a former Minister of State for Education.

    Born at St Elizabeth Catholic hospital, Ogodo/Cemetery Road, Sapele, Delta State, on September 22, 1961, Gbagi attended Bishop Johnson Memory Primary School, Sapele. At 14, he left for Kosofe Secondary School, Mile 12 in Lagos.

    After his secondary education, Gbagi worked with a Foreign Service before travelling abroad to further his education. While in Hong Kong, he shot a movie titled The Birth of Hong Kong in 1993. This gave him some money to pay his tuition fee at Sans Thomas University in the Philippines, where he read political science. He left Sans Thomas University and graduated as a criminologist from the Philippine College of Criminology.

    Gbagi returned to Nigeria for his National Youth Service (NYSC) and served at the Police College in Ikeja, where he taught criminology.

    He later went back to School and made distinction at the faculty of law, University of Lagos. He was the youngest lawyer ever to head the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.

    His investments in Nigeria include GKO Group of Companies, Geekos Investments, Signatious Hotels, and Robinson Shopping Plaza in Warri.

  • DELTA GUBER: Appeal Court dismisses Gbagi’s case over tribunal ruling

    DELTA GUBER: Appeal Court dismisses Gbagi’s case over tribunal ruling

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, Friday, dismissed the interlocutory appeal filed by Social Democratic Party (SDP) Gubernatorial candidate, Chief Kenneth Gbagi against the ruling of the Governorship election tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    Gbagi had attempted to tender a gazette after parties had closed their case and the tribunal adjourned for judgment. The application was dismissed by the tribunal who deemed it an abuse of Court process.

    Not satisfied with the tribunal’s decision, Chief Gbagi appealed to the Court of Appeal. In its judgement, the Court of Appeal said the tribunal exercised its discretion judiciously in dismissing the application.

    The Court presided by Justice Muhammed Lawal Shuaibu also held that Chief Gbagi was unable to show how the gazette was relevant to his case or the overall justice of the case.

    Furthermore, the Court of Appeal was of the opinion that the gazette being a law, is one of those items that the tribunal can take judicial notice of, and there was no need for the hue and cry by Chief Gbagi in attempting to tender it.

    The Court also chastised the 6th and 7th Respondents for conceding to the Appeal instead of filing a cross appeal.

    On the whole, the appeal was dismissed by a unanimous decision of the three member panel.

  • Kenneth Gbagi: When a serial abuser and fugitive becomes sanctimonious – By Pius Mordi

    Kenneth Gbagi: When a serial abuser and fugitive becomes sanctimonious – By Pius Mordi

    By Pius Mordi

    When a man who allegedly insulted, assaulted and dehumanized people that worked for him and had the guts to seek power through elections; when a man allegedly stripped his workers, including a married woman and mother naked, paraded them in front of a camera and distributed the video on the social media because they allegedly accepted voluntary monetary tips from clients that stayed in his hotel and comes out to complain about crime in the society, that society has lost its soul.

    Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, a fugitive from the law, a serial abuser of rights of his workers, a man that took delight in dehumanizing another man’s wife, a man that allegedly filmed and distributed the video of four women, including a mother and wife of another man he stripped naked ought to be behind bars to answer for his crime.

    Audaciously, he sought to be voted the governor of Delta State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Of course, the party obliged. However, seeing that he had long unraveled himself as unfit for leadership, Gbagi withdrew from the free and open primary election of the party and sought refuge in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where he became the sole proprietor.

    But for Nigeria’s dysfunctional institutions, he ought to be serving time. In a report published by an online journal, Gbagi seemgly derided the judiciary when he spuriously alleged that a gazette admitted in evidence and accepted by judges, including the erudite justices of the Supreme Court is fake. Invariably, he is flaunting his air of invisibility to ridiculous level. Indeed, it was an audacious insult on the judiciary for Gbagi to allegedly insinuate that all the judges accepted an official gazette only he himself has deemed as forged.

    But for the absence of strong and independent institutions as well as the fact that all the institutions of law enforcement are under the control of the Federal Government, Gbagi should have been explaining before the court his decision to allegedly abuse the rights of his workers. Having been legally declared wanted by the Nigeria Police in September 2022 over his shameful alleged abuse of his workers, including a married woman he stripped naked, he became a fugitive and hid from summons sent to him by the Police.

    The people of Delta State knew long ago that Gbagi is unfit to be their governor and in PDP, they found a platform for making that clear as he got less than 5,000 votes in the governorship election.

    Gbagi and his ilk are the problem with our society. He has taken advantage of the failure of our institutions and continues to corrupt the society.

    For a fugitive from the law, Gbagi should quietly defend himself on the suit filed by his former employees seeking N1 billion compensation and apology from him for the harm he visited them. He will seek reprieve from the same law courts he just derided.

  • Delta guber: Gbagi asks tribunal to disqualify Oborevwori, Omo-Agege, others

    Delta guber: Gbagi asks tribunal to disqualify Oborevwori, Omo-Agege, others

    Chief Kenneth Gbagi, Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Delta, has appealed to the election petition tribunal in Asaba to disqualify the Governor-elect, Sheriff Oborevwori over alleged forgery.

    He also sought the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege; Labour Party Candidate (LP) Ken Pela; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Mr Great Ogboru, on the ground of violation of the 2022 Electoral Act.

    Gbagi, a former Minister of Education, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

    The SDP candidate in the March 18 governorship election, had filed a 79-page petition against the governor-elect and the other frontline candidates, seeking for their disqualification .

    Gbagi in a certified true copy petition with No.WPT/DL/GOV/2023 to the tribunal, alleged that the candidates, in their attempts to meet the constitutional requirements of eligibility for 2023 governorship election, presented forged documents while filling the INEC forms.

    He said the forged documents included multiple sworn statutory declaration of age and affidavits, inconsistency of names of some of the candidates, perjurious swearing of affidavits.

    Other electoral infraction alleged to be committed by the candidates also included lieying under oath, claims of possessing and non possession of various academic qualifications and alleged financial impropriety by one of the candidates, among other infractions.

    He also hinged his call for their disqualification on the alleged degrees of electoral malpractice at the march 18 poll in Delta.

    He listed the alleged malpractice to include over voting, vote buying induced by the candidates.

    He said there were situations where the total number of votes recorded and allotted were more than the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collected by voters that exceeded the number of registered voters in the polling unit.

    Other alleged infractions, according to him , included alteration of some results sheets which did not reflect on the duplicate copies given to party agents, mutilation of form EC8As, polling units without corresponding voting points result sheets, over and under balloting, among others.

    ”I am a candidate, and I am saying, we are candidates of these election, but this people who are candidates ought not to be candidate and the tribunal is the appropriate place.”

    The SDP candidate, consequently in the petition, urged the tribunal to declare non and void and of no effect, the Certificate of Return issued by INEC to the candidate of PDP as the winner of the governorship election in Delta State.

    He further urged the tribunal to withdraw the Certificate of Return and issue a fresh certificate to him as duly qualified and elected governor.

    “For those of us, who contested and particapated, I am the only one on the list  that is qualified.

    “The election has been held, marks were allocated to us, my prayer is that they were not qualified, and I should be declared as the winner of the election because I am the only qualified candidate in the first instance,”he said.

    He said it was the right time to bring up the matter as records and experience showed that pre election cases most times do not go far.

    “Go back to the Electoral Act, I could not have raised an objection on issue of a candidate of a party that I am not a member.

    ”Every one who went to pre-election matter, none of them went any where, this is the appropriate time, to raise this issue,” he said

    Meanwhile, effort to get reaction of the Chief Press Secretary to the Delta Governor -elect, Mr Dennis Otu, was unsuccessful as he didn’t respond to the WhatsApp message request for his reaction.

  • Among Delta guber gladiators, I’m their senior – Kenneth Gbagi

    Among Delta guber gladiators, I’m their senior – Kenneth Gbagi

    Chief Kenneth Gbagi, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Delta State has said among the gladiators wanting to be governor in the State, he is their senior brother in the profession of politics.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Gbagi, who is a former Minister of State for Education, said this on Sunday at a media briefing in his hometown in Oginibo Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State.

    Gbagi, a former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta, owned up that this was his first time to appear on the ballot papers to seek for elective position, assuring that he would win the 2023 election.

    He said that his decision to leave the PDP was not to divide votes as being insinuated in some quarters.

    “I want to be on the ballot papers and let God decide my faith at the poll. I am running on the ticket of SDP and for your information, this is the first time in my life I will be running for an election in any political party.

    “I am a competent man and that is why I wanted to prove my competency at the ballot. Among the gladiators wanting to be governor in Delta, I am their senior brother in the profession of politics.

    “I am the only one who has served Nigeria at the cabinet level of the Federal Government,” he said.

    Gbagi called on Nigerians to support any presidential candidate from the Southern part of the country in the 2023 general elections.

    “I will support any presidential candidate from the South. I do not know how to pretend. I urged Nigerians to support the shift of government from the North to South based on the principle of equity.

    “We believe in one Nigeria and I do not hate the North. Anything that will scuttle the shift of governance to the South for eight years and back to the North for eight years is unacceptable,” he said.

    On the structure of SDP in Delta, Gbagi said that the 2023 general elections would not be based on structures, adding that the electorate would vote for leaders that would guarantee the future of their children.

    The candidate said he would work with the youth, pensioners and others that meant well for the state.

    Gbagi assured the people that when voted as governor, he would revive the ailing industries in the state to generate employment and increase the revenue base of the state.

    According to him, other areas of focus would be education, health, and pensioners, among others.

  • 2023: Gbagi officially dumps PDP, emerges SDP guber candidate

    2023: Gbagi officially dumps PDP, emerges SDP guber candidate

    A leading governorship aspirant in Delta State, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has officially joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Gbagi, who is a former Minister of State for Education, also emerged as the governorship candidate of the SDP in Delta State for the 2023 governorship election in the state.

    Gbagi’s emergence is coming on the heels of his withdrawal from governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party held last week Thursday in Asaba.

    The former Minister defected to the SDP after he fell out with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over his open support for the PDP governorship candidate and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori.

    Gbagi emerged as the SDP Governorship Candidate during the primary of the party held at the Ughelli Kingdom Hall in Ughelli, Delta State.

    The Oginibo-born politician and industrialist was the sole governorship aspirant of the SDP.

    He emerged through a voice motion moved by a delegate from Bomadi Ward 3, Mr Mike Ujobolo. The motion was supported by another delegate, Pastor Victor Agbula Igbule from Ward 6 in Udu Local Government Area.

    Gbagi was subsequently declared winner and candidate of the party by SDP returning officer, Pastor Highness Akporode.

    Gbagi, represented by his political adviser, Chief Austin Kpomah, commended the delegates for making him the governorship candidate of the party.

    He stated that SDP will defeat the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress – Chief Oborevwori and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in the 2023 general elections.

    The former Minister promised to bring his wealth of experience as a businessman and industrialist to bear as governor of the state.

    Gbagi called on Deltans to support him to rescue the state from the ruling PDP.