By Ochuko Benjamin Omorere
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have responded to you Zik Gbemre, on your inconsequential publication on the social media titled; ‘YOU OWE IT A DUTY TO UNITE KENNETH GBAGI’S FAMILY’. You being someone interested in controversial issues and relevant seeking in the public domain, most a time it is better to keep you mum, but for the public not to be misled and misinformed, I have decided to respond to your ignorance on the issues you raised publicly regarding the children of the Late Former Minister of Education (State), business mogul, lawyer, lecturer, politician and governorship candidate of the APGA during the 2023 Delta state governorship elections, Late Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.
In your write up, you did address Chief Faith Gbagi and Barrister Eric Gbagi on the subject you titled: YOU OWE IT A DUTY TO UNITE KENNETH GBAGI’S FAMILY. With such a caption, one would think there is a war or crisis between Emuobo Gbagi and other children of late Kenneth Gbagi, but this is not true and not the true picture of what has transpired after the demise of late Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi. Emuobo Gbagi as the known eldest son and child have maintained his position as the eldest child and have being diligently piloting and managing his father businesses, properties and maintaining the legacies his father left behind. He does not have issues with anyone nor is he fighting his siblings whom he knew are legitimate children of his late father.
Thank God that in your write up, you did say you are not an indigene of Oginibo community, but rather a native of Iwhrekan Town of Ughievwen Kingdom/Clan, and i believe you will understand that there is a limit to which you will know about someone who is neither from your community nor your family member.
You also claim to be vast in Ughievwen and Urhobo culture, traditions and customs which if it is true as you said, you should know that it is a taboo too for a man to accept a child which is not his from a woman. It is a taboo in Urhobo land. Such a child cannot be called a biological child of the family, but if there are arguments, there are scientific methods or avenues to prove such with the come one known as DNA test to certify the paternity of such child or children. Your argument that the Late Olorogun Gbagi has two other sons before Emuoboh Gbagi, is very laughable and funny as all through your write up, you fail to present a concrete evidences, instances, occurrences or similarities that suggest that Kenneth Gbagi had other children before Emuobo Gbagi.
For example, for someone who claimed that the late business mogul was his close friend, he should have been privy to some facts or details, events or occasions were the late Kenneth Gbagi had introduced to him or others including family of late Gbagi that George Gbagi and Michael Gbagi in this context were his eldest children while Emuobo Gbagi is the third son. Such evidences could have also emanated from family ceremonies, meetings and gatherings where introduction could be made for the children to know themselves and other family members like uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and other relatives to also know them after all the late Kenneth Gbagi was never a dull man neither was he a hidden figure. None of such was proven in your write up.
Again, you alleged that Gbagi’s brothers have aided or facilitated the coming of his former wife Evelyn back to his compound after his demised as you said;
“I am also hearing both of you allegedly aided the ex-wife of Kenneth Gbagi, Evelyn to return to Kenneth Gbagi’s home in Oginibo after she left the marriage for many years. I hear Evelyn even married a whiteman when she left Kenneth Gbagi.
“It is abomination and taboo to bring back the ex-wife of Kenneth Gbagi to his home. A woman who left his husband for many years may have slept with other men, so why bring such a woman back to Kenneth Gbagi’s home after his passing? It is a taboo and against Ughievwen and Urhobo traditions and customs.”
The question I want to ask you Zik Gbemre is, are you accusing these people based on assumption or you have evidences that she must have slept with other men? Beside, you also claimed that the late Gbagi introduced only one wife to you, when you said;
“I was close to Gbagi before he died and the only woman Kenneth Gbagi introduced to me as wife is Justice Mrs Sybil Gbagi. Gbagi told me he was no longer married to Evelyn. Evelyn left Kenneth when Kenneth was alive and she can’t return to Kenneth Gbagi’s home again. Kenneth Gbagi is no longer alive for them to reconcile.”
From the above, it is glaring that you have missed the point because earlier, you said you are not from Oginibo but Iwhrekan, how come you who is not one of the family member is taking decisions on who can come in and who cannot come in. It is glaring that your earlier accusations of Faith and Eric aiding the coming back of Evelyn is nothing but a cheap blackmail as it seem you are the one seeking favour from Justice Mrs. Sybil Gbagi here. If not so, why bringing such sensitive issues to the public domain? Why not you as you claimed to have deep knowledge of Urhobo custom and tradition devised other means other than the pages of the social media. So it might be right for someone to say that you are meddling into a case were only the family is the final arbiter. It is important to clarify that there is no ongoing war or crisis between Emuobo Gbagi and his siblings. Emuobo has maintained his position as the eldest child and is managing his late father’s businesses and properties diligently. It is also not your place, as someone not from the family or community, to make assumptions or accusations about the family dynamics or decisions. The family has the final say on who can come back to the family home, and it is not for outsiders to dictate. It is important to get facts straight before making public statements or accusations. The bitter truth you are urging Faith and Eric Gbagi to tell Emuobo is nothing but for your selfish and personal gains you hope to achieve from the Justice Mrs. Gbagi in view of your many litigations in court. If truly, you are who you claim you are as a man who knows and understand Urhobo tradition, you won’t be addressing a family issues that dies not concerns you in the public domain. Learn how to be a competent Urhobo man with deep insight I to tradition before jumping to matters that only the family and people concern have the right to take the final decisions. Those involved in the issues you raised are not illiterates nor daft, if truly they are late Kenneth Gbagi’s children, they have different avenues to prove it without you instigating them. For now, Emuobo Gbagi is the known and the eldest son of late Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, and he has not failed since his father died as businesses and others have been going on smoothly for the benefit of the family.
Ochuko Benjamin Omorere
23-08-2025
Note that the views and stands of the writer are his personal opinion but not of Southernvoicenews.com