Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, has called on the Urhobo people to unite, preserve their cultural heritage and build stronger political and economic networks capable of securing a better future for the next generation
Dafinone made the call when he visited the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Engr. Michael Ogheneovo Orugbo, JP, KP, Okporua I, seeking the monarch’s prayers, blessings and counsel on his representation of Delta Central and his efforts towards the advancement of the Urhobo nation.
The senator said his position in the National Assembly was not a personal possession but a platform for creating opportunities and opening doors for the people of Delta Central.
He urged traditional rulers across the district to remain engaged with his office, particularly on matters requiring intervention at the national level.
Dafinone said the people of Delta Central must benefit from the network he was building in Abuja, stressing that his relationships with ministers, permanent secretaries and other senior government officials should translate into opportunities in employment, education, contracts and other legitimate areas.
The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Federal Character, said human-capital development remained one of the major priorities of his representation.
He explained that first-term legislators often operated without the financial and political leverage available to more experienced lawmakers, but said he was determined to maximise the opportunities available to his office.
Dafinone disclosed that within two months of becoming chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character, his office had facilitated federal employment for some Urhobo people.
He said more opportunities were expected, adding that his interventions also covered scholarships, accommodation, contracts and other areas.
The senator warned against individuals exploiting his name to extort constituents.
He said his office does not charge anyone for assistance and vowed that anyone caught demanding money from constituents in his name would face consequences.
Dafinone also gave an account of his constituency interventions, saying he deliberately ensured that projects were distributed across Delta Central.
According to him, projects have so far reached 83 of the 85 wards in the senatorial district, with plans to extend interventions to the remaining two wards.
Among the projects he highlighted were a 53-bed student hostel at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), a railway halt at Egbo-Urhe in Ughelli South, a maternity ward at Ughelli General Hospital and an Accident and Emergency Ward at Sapele General Hospital.
But Dafinone said his vision for Delta Central went beyond the distribution of conventional constituency projects.
He said the region needed major industrial investments capable of creating sustainable jobs, wealth and economic opportunities.
The senator disclosed that he recently spent four days examining the state of the Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja, as part of efforts to determine how the long-abandoned industrial complex could be brought back into productive use.
He said he was preparing a memorandum to submit to the Federal Government on the future of the steel plant.
Dafinone said a comprehensive technical assessment was necessary to establish whether the facility could be revived as an integrated steel plant or whether its existing infrastructure could be transformed into a modern manufacturing and industrial village.
He said the assessment would also establish the present condition of the facilities, determine equipment that may have been removed and assess the financial viability of restarting production.
For the senator, the revival of the steel complex represents a potentially transformative economic opportunity for Delta and the wider Niger Delta region.
The senator also expressed concern over what he described as the gradual erosion of Urhobo cultural practices.
He called on traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to document and preserve the Urhobo language, traditional marriage rites, funeral ceremonies and other aspects of the people’s cultural identity.
Dafinone disclosed that he had sponsored the Urhobo Language Competition for two consecutive years and would support it for a third year in honour of the late Senator Pius Ewherido, whom he credited with initiating the programme.
He warned that failure to document Urhobo traditions could allow practices from other ethnic groups to gradually replace indigenous customs.
Dafinone recalled an occasion during a traditional Urhobo prayer when participants were reportedly asked to remove their caps, describing the incident as an indication of the need to properly document cultural practices and educate younger generations.
The senator said Urhobo remains one of Nigeria’s significant ethnic groups, with highly educated, skilled and successful people spread across the country and around the world.
However, he lamented that the people often appeared politically and economically marginalised because they failed to work together.
He therefore urged Urhobo leaders and citizens to move beyond personal interests and embrace collective advancement.
Dafinone said wealth should not be measured solely by personal accumulation but also by service, legacy and the ability to create opportunities for others.
He pointed to the legacy of his late father, Senator David Omueya Dafinone, saying the reputation he inherited came with a responsibility to serve and preserve the family name.
He said his ambition was to elevate the Urhobo nation and prepare a new generation of leaders capable of sustaining its progress.
Earlier, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom urged Dafinone to remain accessible to his constituents and use his position to attract more development and economic opportunities to Udu and the wider Urhobo nation.
The monarch said the senator should not be judged merely by the amount of money given to individuals, but by the quality of legislation he sponsors, the networks he builds and the opportunities he attracts to the people.
He also called for stronger community engagement, greater support for gas-based industries and protection of community and industrial assets, particularly those connected to the steel sector.
The monarch urged Dafinone to work with relevant National Assembly committees and government agencies to ensure that Udu and the wider Urhobo nation benefit from the economic opportunities within their domain.
Responding, Dafinone said unity, cultural identity, mentorship and succession were critical to the survival and advancement of the Urhobo nation.
He stressed that leadership must ultimately be about preparing others to take over.
“Everyone cannot be the captain of the ship at the same time,” Dafinone said, adding that his responsibility at the moment was to help move the Urhobo “ship” towards its rightful destination before handing over to the next generation.
He maintained that the Urhobo people could no longer afford to work at cross-purposes if they were serious about securing their rightful place in Nigeria’s political, economic and social development.
