By Sunday Ani
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has joined other well meaning Nigerians to mourn the death of the former Minister of Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, OON.
Gbagi, who was also the SDP’s governorship candidate in the last election in Delta State, died on Saturday at the age of 62.
Adebayo described the late politician as a Nigerian, who loved his country and her citizens, an ultimate brother and consummate friend of Nigerians from all walks of life and every cardinal point in the country’s geography.
“He gave his all to his country and gave more than he had for his friends; and made friends with as many as could justly be aligned with,” he said.
He eulogised his virtues, saying, “He was a man of courage and energy, who knew how to create and build, whose mind was an open book and his heart too large to exclude anyone.
“He lived with the wisdom of the aged, and the excitement of a child, and complete trust that everyone would treat him with as much love as he treated them; never failing, never falling even when the road was rough and unrewarding; with no distinction between what battles were his or those of his friends. Chief Kenneth Gbagi was always ahead of the owner of the fight once justice was at stake.”
Adebayo noted that the late Gbagi was a complete believer in Nigeria and Nigerians. He said: “Gbagi was ubiquitous and universal in the weaving of the fabrics of unity and solidarity across every square mile of Nigeria. There is no place or space, where Gbagi could not open doors on account of some good deeds already preceding him.
“You will live as long as Nigeria lives. We will carry your flag on and Nigeria shall endure so that your dream of an equal and just land of closely knit brothers and sisters living on the abundance of our inheritance and productive civilisation shall come to pass.”