LAGOS FEBRUARY 7TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi and Delta State deputy governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, continued their bitter exchanges, yesterday, with both men accusing each other of lying.
While Gbagi alleged that Utuama contradicted Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s praises of him (Gbagi) as a person worthy of emulation, Utuama dismissed Gbagi as a serial liar.
On Tuesday, Gbagi said he had nothing against the deputy governor other than protecting the interest of Deltans and raised issues that cast shadows on Utuama’s place of origin. The deputy governor responded by pooh-poohing Gbagi’s allegations and described him as a pathological liar.
Responding to Utuama’s comments, Gbagi, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Desy Smith, said, by casting aspersion on him, Utuama was contradicting Uduaghan.
But Utuama, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Augustine Avwode, said: “We maintain that Gbagi is a pathological liar. Like any one suffering from such incurable disease, he will always concoct stories to reinforce previous lies as is always the case with a serial liar.
It is in Gbagi’s character to always want to pull down those whose stature he can never attain. For now, we will no longer join issues with him because it is common knowledge that whoever runs after a mad man on the street, on account of anything, stands the risk of being called a mad person.”
Meanwhile, Smith said: “We have read the Septuagenarian, Utuama, as contained in his statement in the Vanguard Newspaper, and as the Media Assistant to the distinguished Olorogun Gbagi, I was with him when he visited Utuama in his office for the first and only time he ever did.
“Utuama said at that meeting, and I quote: ‘Gbagi, you are a big problem.’ Olorogun Gbagi then asked him and I quote, ‘why am I problem?’ to which question the Professor replied: ‘You are bluntly honest. You are too blunt.
You know we in government don’t like blunt people.’ Gbagi again asked him ‘Would you prefer that I be dishonest like those of you in government?’ Utuama replied and I quote him again: ‘No. Your name and personality act as a check and balance when we need to use it’.
“I am pained as I witnessed Utuama’s living with Gbagi at a time just before he was appointed Attorney General and for the same man for obvious personal political interest to now contradict Governor Uduaghan, who only few months ago publicly acknowledged this great investor, moulder of society to the admiration of old and young people in Delta and in Nigeria.”
Source: Vanguard