By Anne Azuka
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, Friday, attended the funeral ceremony of former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.
Gbagi, who was Delta State Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections, died on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the age of 62 years.
Other dignitaries at the funeral include; Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Theresa Diai; Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; Senator James Manager; former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alexander Ogomudia; Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung; Member representing Ughelli South State Constituency, Hon. Festus Utuama and Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze among others.
In his homily during the funeral service, the Very Revd. Fr. Ambrose Oghenejode Abaka, said the late Chief Kenneth Gbagi was a generous man who helped people within and outside the country in difficult times of their lives.
Revd. Fr. Abaka said the news of Chief Gbagi’s death came as a rude shock to many people, adding that he was an erudite scholar of immense repute.
He disclosed that the deceased was a servant leader in the authority of Christ, saying; “we are gathered here as a family in communion with God to seek God’s grace and mercy on his soul.”
The Catholic priest harped on the need for peace and unity among the people in the Niger Delta so as to advance sustainable socio-economic growth and development in the region.
“We need unity in the Niger Delta to advance sustainable development in the region. Before now, Burutu port was working but today, Burutu and Warri ports are no longer working.
“Crude oil are extracted from the Niger Delta but most oil companies have their offices in Lagos. We need unity to reposition the region,” he said, adding that without unity, no meaningful development could be achieved.
