The residents of Oginibo Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta have described the death of Chief Kenneth Gbagi as a rude shock and one too hard to believe.
Oginibo, the residents also said that the former education minister was a beacon of hope to them.
According to them, the demise was a great loss to the Oginibo community and Delta at large.
Mr Odoji Genesis, one of the residents, said the death of the 2023 Delta governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had created a vacuum too difficult to fill.
“Chief Gbagi always come to our aide whenever we are in trouble. He has done so many things for our community.
“He gave us a secondary school, hospital, civic centre and roads; some projects have been completed, others ongoing.
“His death is really painful; we will miss him greatly,” Genesis said.
Also, Mr Precious Okpakpajerhe, another resident, said that Gbagi’s death was unexpected.
“We did not expect him to die at this time; we are not happy; we have lost a pillar in Oginibo community,” he lamented.
On his part, Mr Emmanuel Andrew said the late Gbagi was a philanthropist of great repute with records of so much done for the community.
“The death of Gbagi will impact greatly on our daily activities. We have lost a father and a philanthropist,” he said.
There was a sober mood in the Oginibo community following Gbagi’s demise.
From the entrance of the community and in some spots within it, people stood in groups expressing shock over the unfortunate incident.
A few shops, however, opened for business while some residents went to their worship centres.
The presence of security operatives near the entrance to Gbagi’s residence in the community.
At the central motor park in Oginibo, some motorcyclists waited dejectedly for passengers, while residents of nearby communities, like Imode and Envyara, looked moody.
The passage of the renowned criminologist and senior lawyer was disclosed on Saturday in a statement signed by his eldest son, Chief Emuoboh Gbagi.
The statement, which was issued on behalf of the Gbagi family, said the former minister of education and an industrialist, died on Saturday.
He was aged 62.
