Prior to the elections that ushered in Senator Ede Dafinone, of the All Progressives Congress APC, into the hallowed chamber of the Nigerian Senate to represent the people of Delta Central Senatorial District, many had believed he was experience, highly educated and had what it takes as front line business man and chartered account to do things differently.
But it is disheartening today to see Senator Ede Dafinone seemingly slumbering while his constituents in Delta Central Senatorial District are in need of tangible development projects, empowerments, employment opportunity and purposeful representation in the Senate.
With his background as a world recognised chartered accountant coupled with his promises during his electioneering campaign, Delta Central indigene had high hopes for him to make a significant impact in the Senate.
However, his lack of visible projects and initiatives in the Senate raises questions about his effectiveness and commitment to serving the people who elected him. While it is important to give credit where it is due, it is equally important to hold elected officials accountable for their promises and performance.
Senator Ede Dafinone succeeded Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who was the Deputy President of the Eight Senate.
Ovie Omo-Agege is a lawyer and Politician by Profession and Ede Dafinone is a business mogul and renowned chartered accountant. With his exposures and pedigrees, everyone thought he could do things differently that will benefit his constituents, hence he was giving a nod at the general elections. Some believed in his late father Senator Dafinone’s feats in his time and so thought it will be better also for his son to succeed Omo-Agege compared to famous Delta politician, Senator Ighoyota Amori of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
Many believed he has learned alot from the antecedents of Senator Omo-Agege believing he now had a template of development to improve on, but it is becoming an opposite of what the people of Delta Central bargained for.
It could be recalled, that during the tenure of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege at the senate, notable projects such electricity, roads, water, institutions of learning where attracted to the senatorial district, though some executed, some still under construction and some also abandoned, but he indeed wrote his name in the hearts of the people. He facilitated a number of employment into different federal government ministries and civil service and other notable federal parastatals. A lot of empowerments were also given to constituents.
He was visible to the constituents, but what is being experienced today is that Senator Ede Dafinone is for just privileged few. We have Delta Central Senator who praises good things done by others but could not do same to his constituents.
For instance, recently we watched the Delta Central Senator present at Kogi State when a fellow Senator, Natasha Akpotu Uduaghan went back to her constituents to give account of stewardship and as well empower them. Senator Ede Dafinone was there and said a lot of good things about her, but one wonder why such an eloquent, supposedly refined and expose senator should not copy from her.
Some of the empowerments given by Senator Natasha Uduaghan like the learning tablets for primary and secondary school students can as well help students of Delta Central, when will Senator Dafinone give such empowerments? The only heard empowerment programme he has embarked on was the Federal Government Nano support fund of N50,000 which has not manifested while the other is the Senator Ede Dafinone Urhobo Language Competition where the first price went home with N500,000. Recently, the selected APC members invited for Bank of Industry BOI seminar, most of the invitees cane back home angrily. When then will he empower his constituents?
It is time for Senator Ede Dafinone to wake up from his slumber and fulfill his responsibilities as a Senator by actively engaging with his constituents, championing important issues, and initiating development projects that will benefit the people of Delta Central Senatorial District. Only then can he truly be considered a giant in the Senate.
Godwin-Maria Utuedoye is a Journalist, Social Critic and Public Affairs Analyst. He writes from Ughelli