…I’ll Push For Revitalisation Of Okwagbe Deep-Sea and Sapele Ports
By Eseoghene Emuke
A renowned economist and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ede Omueya Dafinone, has officially declared his intention to contest for the Delta Central Senatorial seat in the 2023 general election.
Chief Edafinone said he is the best man to consolidate on the achievements and vibrant representation recorded under the Deputy President of the Senate and senator representing Delta Central, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, at the Red Chamber.
He spoke on Saturday during a declaration rally held at the Fiesta Dome in Ughelli, Delta State, which was attended by a mammoth crowd of APC supporters from across the state.
Speaking at the declaration rally, Dafinone said he was in the race to succeed Senator Omo-Agege at the Senate to build on Urhobo’s rising profile at national politics of the country.
He commended Omo-Agege’s vision which has restored Urhobo greatness and improved the lives of the people of Delta Central Senatorial District through quality representation at the National Assembly.
“Today, after consulting with my family, party leaders, critical stakeholders in Urhoboland and my associates, I purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for Senate on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC to serve the people of Delta Central Senatorial District and the Urhobo Nation in the 10th Senate.
“I also want to invite all people of Delta Central Senatorial District to join me on this walk to sustain, consolidate and build on the good work Senator Ovie Omo-Agege started for the people of Delta Central Senatorial District and the Urhobo Nation which began with the purchase of forms at the National Secretariat of APC in Abuja on Wednesday, April 27th, 2022.
“My dear compatriots, in 2015, when we needed a strong voice at the national level to reposition the Urhobo Nation, after years of declining influence and standing in the politics of our country, we sent Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Obarisi of Urhoboland to the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to represent us.
“In just seven years in the senate, Omo-Agege pursued his vision to restore Urhobo greatness and improve the lives of all Delta Central Senatorial District residents with a sense of urgency and he did the hard work to make that vision a reality.
“He offered us effective and quality representation in the hallowed chambers of the Nigerian Senate and raised the bar on legislative representation to a new level.”
He promised to pursue with all vigor and collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that the ailing Okwagbe deep-sea and Sapele ports in the state were revived to provide job opportunities for the people of the district.
Dafinone, who is the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG), stated, “Now we must fight to create more jobs to solve the insecurity problem and harness the demographic dividend associated with the rising population.
“This requires a vibrant, diversified economy with a strong manufacturing base. And the task of our time is to seek bold new ideas, create the urgently needed jobs for our people and lift millions out of poverty.
“We must also adopt an export-led industrialisation strategy to revitalize our manufacturing base, agriculture, and help to create new jobs and economic growth.
“If elected I will campaign tirelessly to promote Nigerian-made products and work to enact laws to create an enabling environment for the manufacturing sector to thrive.
“I will also work with my colleagues in the Senate to enact a law that will make the federal government adopt a policy, to revitalize our seaports in the south, particularly the Okwagbe deep-sea and Sapele ports to promote the export of produce from the Niger Delta area and also decongest Lagos port.
“Additionally, I would be committed to promoting transparency and accountability in government financial management, environmental protection, the arts, gender equality, and women and youth empowerment.”
He stated that he was the right person with requisite knowledge, experience and contacts to build on the achievements under Omo-Agege, and called on delegates to give him the APC ticket as its standard bearer for the forthcoming election.
According to him, the Dafinone Foundation, which he currently heads, has brought succor to the people of Delta Central, through the provision scholarship, micro credit loans and empowerment of Urhobo people.
“In the past 6 years through the Dafinone foundation, I have been running social and community projects to provide scholarships for post-graduate education, disburse micro-credit loans to women and support the development of vocational skills within Delta State and over 2000 persons have been empowered through this intervention.
“I am running with the hope that the people of Delta Central Senatorial District will allow me to deploy my knowledge and experience as a Chartered Accountant, as the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG) and Nexportrade Houses Limited, as a member of the Board of NEXIM Bank, as the Chairman of Sapele Integrated Industries Limited, as the Chairman of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and as a trustee of the Guild of Fine Artists, and most especially as a philanthropist which has prepared me to hit the ground running with an understanding of the issues that matter most to Delta Central and Nigeria, as well as the experience to make a difference in the Senate.
“In offering myself to represent our people, I am mindful of their expectations and needs which I understand very well, having served in various committees of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, whenever I am given the privilege to contribute my quota to the advancement of Urhobo Nation. I am currently chairman of the Sapele Okpe Community Land Trust Association. Trustee of Okpe Union and Treasurer and Trustee of the Okpe Leaders of Thought.
“Today, I’m even more committed to serving our people and contributing to the progress of Urhoboland. So, as the next senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, I won’t avoid any challenges, and I’ll put Delta Central and Urhobo Nation first in all of my decisions.
“At the heart of the challenges we face as a district and a country is the urgent need for jobs for our people, especially women and youth, as well as insecurity that is threatening our way of life.
“I believe that the rising insecurity in Nigeria is a result of rising unemployment, especially among the youth”, he stated.
The declaration attended by top APC chieftains including the Chairman Dafinone Strategic Committee, Chief Adelabu Bojor; Pastor John Onojeharo and Chief C.C.I. Wiliki and host of others.
Taking turns to speak at the ceremony, the APC leaders described Ede Dafinone as a dynamic Urhobo man who is eminently qualified to succeed Senator Omo-Agege at the Red Chamber.
They urged delegates of the APC to queue behind and vote for Dafinone during the party’s primaries being the best man to fly the flag of the party in 2023 general elections.
