Young people robbed of power to dream, says Gordon’s
By Editor
POPULAR Nigerian comedian Gordon’s (Godwin Komne, aka De Bellusconi) and Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has challenged young people to dream big and not be constrained by circumstances around them, especially what he called leadership failure that is so pervasive across the country. Gordon’s made the assertion at DelFest 2024 business seminar in Asaba, Delta State, and noted that the mindsets of youngsters in the state as well as across the country have been wrongly wired as to lose faith in everything the country stands for. He said cynicism was at its highest level among youths who have been serially abused by those who purport to lead them.
“When Ethemena Raphael Obrike (Founder/CEO of DelFest) shared DelFest 224 dream with me, I was praying inside of me, because we have N50 million we could share for them via a beauty pageant, but our Delta youths did not come out,” he lamented. “It’s because of two reasons: people have played them enough 419 before, and secondly, they don’t see the reason to. Why would they even run after N5 million when they can sit behind their computers and do a good story and then comes N50 million? The way you envisage these things from the outside is not the way they go. But never giving up is the rule of the game.”
Gordon’s said working in the state has opened his eyes to a lot of things that are wrong, but said he was determined to help solve them through pragmatic means. He noted that his zeal for being an effective leader took a hit as soon as he arrived when reality dawned on him, but that he’d had to rally for the urgent task at hand.
“When I came from Lagos with so much fire in my belly, didn’t I calm down overtime?” he said in his characteristic comic laughter that got the audience reeling as well. “This is because the youths here will humble you first. Even the leaders you run to, when you talk to them they don’t understand where you’re coming from. That’s the problem of our state. Sometimes, I stay with the governor and I see proposals leave the office; I can’t see the impact, but I know that’s money going. The people don’t dream because government was established to service system. So when you come into power, they tell you, ‘this is the way former oga passed, so you’ve got to pass that way, too.’ If you don’t pass that way they will wait for you, because that’s the way of profitability. Now if they say this is the way we pass and you don’t pass that, problem will come.”
Gordon’s commended Mr. Obrike for bringing business innovation to the state courtesy DelFest and encouraged him never to give up on the dream, as its full manifestation will come overtime.
According to him, “But I want to sincerely thank Ralph, because when he was sharing this dream with me, in my heart I was sincerely praying for him. Sadly, if we were doing business seminar in Lagos, this hall will not be enough for the turnout. Sadly, the people who developed Lagos came from here (Delta). The media houses in Lagos are owned by Niger Delta people. This is a new level; we’ve got to do business differently. We’ve got to even lead differently. For us to bring innovation to this state, we’ve got to do things differently. Take advantage of this opportunity. This is a good idea, DelFest where the outside will packed filled with local and international musicians. It will take a man like Ralph and myself to make it happen and you seated here. So take heed of ideas; they rule and run the world. A time will coming when this state will truly maximise its true potential.”
He charged visitors to enjoy their stay in the state, saying he’d brought His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s goodwill message to them while extolling the virtues of the state, We are here to change that narrative. This is a state that is endowed with natural resources and abilities.”
However, Gordon’s expressed dismay that The Dome Event Centre was still in its tent status many years after it was hurriedly built to host some events where it has remained without being transformed into the state-of-the-art centre befitting a state like Delta. He blamed it on the idea that governance must profit only certain people and not the majority.
“Eko Hotel Lagos built a magnificent place for events, yet we are under caravan tent,” he said. Does it not shock you? And when you try to change this thing – this thing is someone’s profitability – they will come for you. It’s that bad.”
Gordon’s
