LAGOS FEBRUARY 4TH (URHOBOTODAY)-FORMER Minister of State for Education and Delta State chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has charged Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN to be economical with words, adding that he has nothing against the deputy governor over the 2015 elections other than protecting the interest of Deltans and the Urhobos.
In a chat with reporters in Lagos, Gbagi, lamented that people were blowing out of proportion his advice that a septuagenarian should allow the youths to aspire for Delta governorship. He said it was sad and evil that people were fabricating stories that he said he had Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in his pocket.
Saying Utuama was his Law teacher at the University of Lagos, a course he did as a second course after reading Criminology and managing many companies, he said: “I don’t have any problem with the Delta State deputy governor, Prof Utuama. I only made a simple statement that I know him to be between 71 and 73 years old. The Utuama that I know will not say he wants to contest for governorship at 71. They are taking it out of proportion. Utuama told me he won’t contest. As my benefactor, I did not expect him to lie to me. As my law teacher, I did not expect him to lie to me. It is sad that people are fabricating stories that I said Governor Uduaghan is inside my pocket. I can’t say that my last son, who is eight years old, is insider my pocket, talk less of a man who has ruled a complex state like Delta for eight years.
“Most categorically, the issue is when I met Utuama, he said he was from Udu. Today, he says he is from Ughelli South Local Government Area; another information says he is from Otuama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. I am from Oginibo. My father’s and grand-father’s graves are in Oginibo. My mother’s father’s grave is at Imode in Ughelli South council. My mother’s grave is at Jesse in Ethiope East.
“The issue is people are saying Utuama is not from Ughelli South. We are pleading so that Urhobos will not be deceived again. Where is Utuama from? I will respect Utuama as somebody who I sat in his class as professor of Land Law, but the truth must be told. I do not believe anybody of sound mind should be talking about contesting a governorship election at 71.”
Source: Vanguard