By Zik Gbemre
It is obvious that redundant Sen Ede Dafinone feels he got elected into the 10th Senate, in the shadows of his iconic father, to be lauding fellow senators and other officeholders for doing their job while he sits in Abuja, estranged from his constituents.
On a scale to measure the most misfit of federal lawmakers currently representing Delta Central, indeed entire Delta state, Ede takes the lead without argument.
He was in the news a couple of days back, hero worshipping President Bola Tinubu for ongoing repair works on the Benin-Sapele-Effurun Road, even as a greater stretch of the road remains nightmare that takes regular travellers’ vehicles to the mechanics every time they pass through.
Dafinone should be bothered that Delta state, for its significant contribution to the national treasury, deserves far more than the presidential approval for repairs of Effurun-Sapele-Benin Road in comparison to less contributing states where federal government has multiple mega roads projects ongoing.
Ede should be putting pressure on Festus Keyamo, holding him accountable for failing to implement the Osubi Airstrip expansion project for which the Aviation Minister announced to the world that Tinubu had approved N2Billion for the expansion of the Runway.
But for Ede, rather than joining his two other Delta Senators to put pressure on the President to do more, he is licking the boots of Tinubu to gain 2027 favour. His excuse is that previous administrations neglected the road, so Tinubu deserves profuse praises for simply doing his job, not near as responsive as Delta deserves.
Proven to be in the habit of abdicating his responsibility to lauding others, same Dafinone was among hype men who accompanied Sen Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to blow her trumpet on Natasha’s outstanding projects and empowerments delivery to her constituents in just her first year of recovering her 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial mandate stolen by Abubakar Ohere.
This was Natasha who only came into the house nearly six months later than Dafinone and others who started the 10th Assembly. It is so disappointing of Ede Dafinone not to know that he was passing a vote of no confidence on self for joining in the praise singing a fellow senator when he hasn’t been able to deliver to his constituents, one quarter of what Natasha delivered to her people in one year.
On the pains in gross human rights violations Okuama Community is suffering over the unfortunate killing of soldiers, it took Ned Nwoko, Delta North Senator who was even in opposition at the time, to secure release of Ewu monarch arrested and detained like a common criminal by the Nigerian Army.
Apparently out of shame, Ede has resorted to making passing statements in the floor of the senate in perceived efforts to draw government attention to the rights abuses against Okuama people, his constituents.
He was mute when it started. If he had been bold enough to speak truth to power when it started, even if it meant supporting, behind the scenes, to amplify the voices of his fearless constituents who were speaking, the Army which has not been able to arrest the Ijaw militant target prime suspect of soldiers killings, would not have enjoyed the impunity of burning Okuama down, killing residents and throwing the community leaders to die in their dungeon.
It’s so disappointing. Under Ede’s father, inimitable Sen David Dafinone, a most leading voice in the NASS in his days, the Army could not have done what they did to Okuama.
Under David Dafinone, conceited Godswill Akpabio, could not have been qualified to be a principal Senate officer, talk much of being the rubber stamp Senate President he is today.
Under David Dafinone, Tinubu could not have neglected Delta state so much and expects a senator representing Delta Central to be licking his boots. Under David Dafinone, traveling from Effurun to Benin was a leisure ride and stone throw because the highway was milestone smooth.
That was why the Dafinone senatorial years, he however not being the lone hero, Delta Central, indeed Urhobo nation, enjoyed outstanding the best of recognition in national politics and development.
We had DSC headed by Senator Fred Brume. The National Supplies with the business sage, Chief PB Djebah in charge. Chief Daniel Okumagba Chaired Ajaokuta Steel board and Justice Victor Ovie Whisky was appointed Chairman, Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO). Under David Dafinone, the moment he stood up and heard on the floor, the Senate has spoken.
If the power brokers who imposed Ede on Delta Central thought it was a chance to replicate his father’s legacy, they have been proven, dead wrong, by lousy Ede.
Ede does not deserve to be his ward’s Councillor. He should enjoy his undeserved senate seat while it last. 2027, he should retire from politics into sustaining the accounting career he inherited from his iconic father.
Delta Central needs a vibrant Senator, not docile Ede.
Zik Gbemre
March 25,2025
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