SAPELE/Nigeria: Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, has declared that his mission in the National Assembly is to introduce new ideas and approaches to governance rather than simply following the footsteps of his predecessors.
Speaking at his Sapele residence during a courtesy visit by the executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) Warri Chapel, the lawmaker said his private sector background and diverse exposure shape a unique style of representation that will be felt across all eight local government areas of Delta Central.
“I don’t believe I should enter the office of Senator and do the same thing everybody else has done before. As someone with a different background and exposure, I must bring something new to the table, not just imitate those who came before me. Otherwise, I might as well have let them continue,” he stated.
The Okpe-born Chartered Accountant, who resigned from the board of the Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank to contest the 2023 Senate seat, commended the achievements of his predecessor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, particularly in attracting federal funding for institutions in Delta State. However, he stressed that his own focus is on human capital development, including skills training, employment creation, promotions, and facilitating contract access for his constituents.
Dafinone disclosed that a needs assessment across Delta Central identified over 700 potential projects, with plans to deliver between 60 and 70 in each budget cycle. He highlighted electricity access through transformers and solar-powered streetlights as a top priority.
“We ensure projects are spread across all eight LGAs without concentrating in one area. In our first year, we quickly put things together. In the second year, we focused on areas that had benefited less and where we got significant votes. By the third year, we’ll still maintain that balanced distribution,” he assured.
Emphasizing accessibility as a core value, Dafinone said he keeps his office open to all, unlike some politicians who limit contact to avoid pressure from constituents. “I believe the more requests that come, the more opportunities I have to help. Our people are not getting their fair share of contracts and appointments at the federal level, so my role is to help lobby and guide them on how to navigate Abuja,” he said.
He also pledged support to DBS Warri by providing solar-powered lighting to improve security and a standard film editing suite to enhance news production, following requests from the NUJ DBS Warri Chapel executive, led by its Secretary, Comrade Ogheneruona Oyibo.
Comrade Oyibo noted that the lighting project would address security concerns at the station, while the editing suite would boost reportage and film production capabilities.
