𝗔 𝗦𝗢𝗡'𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗘: 𝗠𝗬 𝗙𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥, 𝗠𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦: 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗻. (𝗗𝗰𝗻) 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝘂𝘁𝘂 𝗢𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗼, 𝗘𝘀𝗾---𝗕𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗻. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗯𝗲𝗺𝗶 𝗔𝗸𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗯𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗴𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝗯𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮, 𝗢𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗢𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀.

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘆,

𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

16𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹, 2026.

As part of celebrations marking the birthday of former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Hon. (Dcn) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Esq., his son, Hon. Peregbemi Akpokeniboyegha Gbamila, has released an emotional and deeply reflective tribute, capturing personal memories, leadership lessons, and enduring values passed down from father to son.

The Ondo State House of Assembly aspirant, in a message titled “My Father, My Compass,” paid glowing tribute to the elder statesman, describing him as a moral guide, a spiritual anchor, and a model of servant leadership.

Below is the full message as released:

A Son’s Tribute: My Father, My Compass

By Hon. Peregbemi Akpokeniboyegha Gbamila, Ondo State House of Assembly Aspirant.

Birthdays are not just dates on a calendar. They are altars of remembrance. Today, as my father, Hon. (Dcn) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Esq., former Deputy Governor of Delta State, adds another year, I find myself returning to the earliest stories that shaped me.

I grew up to the sound of a father who knelt before he led. Long before Delta State knew him as Deputy Governor, we knew him as Deacon. Every morning in our home began with scripture and petitions for people whose names I could not yet pronounce. That was my first lesson in leadership: you serve people better when you have first bowed before God.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀

When duty called him to Government House, Asaba, the weight of the Niger Delta followed him home. I watched him leave at dawn for peace meetings in communities torn by mistrust, and return at night with a notebook full of promises he intended to keep. He taught me that titles are temporary, but impact is the only thing that outlives a tenure. He did not govern from a distance. He walked the riverine paths, listened to the elders, and sat with the youth. From him I learned that power is only useful when it carries people across to safety.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹

When I told him I wanted to run for the Ondo State House of Assembly, he did not hand me a strategy document. He told me three things and left me to wrestle with them.

𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗠𝗲:

 • See the people first: Before budgets, before bills, before cameras, see the market woman, the farmer, the student.

 • Guard your name: A good name is the only inheritance that appreciates after you are gone.

 • Return to God: When the crowd is loud and the path is unclear, return to the place of prayer where you first heard your assignment.

So today I do not just say happy birthday, Dad. I say thank you. Thank you for showing me that a man can hold high office and still remain a servant. Thank you for proving that faith and governance can walk together without contradiction. Thank you for the discipline of your example, because sons do not do what fathers say, they do what fathers live.

As I campaign across wards in Ondo State, I carry your story in my chest. Every handshake reminds me of the ones you extended in the creeks. Every town hall reminds me of the peace parleys you led. Your birthday is my reminder that I am not starting a journey, I am continuing a legacy.

Happy Birthday, Hon. (Dcn) Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, Esq. May your strength be renewed like the eagle’s. May your health be perfect and your joy be full. May the same God who entrusted you with Delta State in a season now enlarge your tent and preserve you for us.

Your son is proud of you. Delta State is grateful for you. And history will be kind to you.

With love and honor,

Hon. Peregbemi Akpokeniboyegha Gbamila.

The tribute has since drawn admiration from political associates and community stakeholders, many of whom describe it as a powerful reflection of legacy, leadership, and the enduring influence of family values in public service.