By Eseoghene Emuke
The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Ede Dafinone, has received royal blessings from traditional rulers of Urhobo Nation ahead of 2023 general elections.
This is just as Urhobo Monarchs have charged the APC senatorial candidate to follow the footsteps of his late father, Senator David Dafinone, who was also an elected senator in past, for placing the Urhobo Nation on the world map through his excellent public and private career in the country.
Similarly, Dafinone has assured the people of Delta Central of his quest to build on the solid representations by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; late Senator Pius Akpo Ewherido, late Senator Fred Brume and others including his late father at the Senate.
The Urhobo monarchs spoke on Tuesday at the Palace of the 105-year-old Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom when the renowned accountant turned politician paid a consultative visit to the Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council in Olomu, Delta State.
Speaking on behalf of the 24 traditional rulers of Urhobo Nation, His Royal Majesty, Ogurime-Rime Ukori 1, Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, described Okakuro Ede Dafinone as one of the finest brains just like his father that the Urhobo Nation has produced.
The Agbon monarch, while reminding the APC Delta Central Senatorial candidate that the duty of traditional rulers was to pray and wish for the betterment of their subjects and the generality of Urhobo Nation, assured him that as kings they were all praying for all candidates vying for elective positions in 2023.
The monarchs enjoined him to emulate the indelible footprints his late father (Senator David Dafinone) made while alive, adding that Ede Dafinone has the qualities, experience, and exposure to represent the people of the district at the Senate.
“We have seen your antecedents and manifesto as one who has followed in his father’s footsteps. Your father (Senator David Dafinone) brought honour and respect to Urhobo Nation. Therefore, we wish and pray that what you seek, you will find. When you get what you seek, don’t forget to fulfil your promises to Urhobo nation”, Ogurime-Rime stated.
Earlier in his address, APC Delta Central Senatorial Candidate, Chief Dafinone commended the monarchs and Urhobo people for their continued support to the Dafinone family, stressing that the family was indebted to Urhobo Nation for her love and support to the Dafinones.
While reeling out his plans, Dafinone said “With my professional, philanthropic and entrepreneurial background, I believe my vision as a Senator representing Delta Central is best summarized as ‘…. to facilitate the creation of an enabling environment that allows the private sector to flourish emphasizing the strength of our natural resources and people.’
“In creating this environment, I believe it should bring prosperity not just to a few but to the greatest number of our people who reside within the senatorial district.
“We cannot attract local and foreign investors without security and safety. By safety, it is not just physical safety but encouraging the district to be open and welcoming to those who bring economic opportunities to the area.
“The greatest single resource that I possess is the contacts I have made and the integrity I possess that will allow me to approach the government and the organized private sector to bring opportunities to the people of the district.
“I also have the knowledge of how business successfully works so that I can attract the right type of businesses who are managed by the right sort of people who grow businesses in conjunction with the people of the area and not just use the people and their environment in a manner that is only beneficial to themselves.”
The monarchs led by the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, His Majesty, Ogoni-Oghoro I, later offered royal prayers for Chief Ede Dafinone and his political ambition in 2023.
Dafinone was accompanied on the visit by prominent APC leaders including Chief Julius Okpoko, Chief Tuesday Onoge, Ambassador Frank Efeduma, Archbishop Edward Orovwuje, Chief Mrs Veronica Ogbuagu (former Delta State Commissioner for Education), Chief Barr Adelabu Bodjor, Chief Joshua Asah, Chief Godfrey Dafinone, Chief Asa, Chief Cosmos Ighoraye, Chief Julius Ogboru, Chief Johnson Kogoro, Chief Kingsely Abeke, Hon Moses Ogodo, Hon (Chief) Francis Atanomeyowvi and others.
