The lawmaker representing Delta Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Ede Dafinone, has said he will not turn a blind eye to the current state of the Delta Steel Company (DSC) now Premium Steel and Mines Limited at Ovwian-Aladja in Udu Delta State.
Dafinone, whose father as a senator was instrument to facilitating the establishment of DSC, assured that he would work with the administration of President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the now moribund steel company is resuscitated.
He gave the assurance on Sunday during an interactive session with leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Delta Central Senatorial District at Ughelli in Delta State.
The Delta Central lawmaker said he was very concerned about the current plight of DSC, noting that he would give calls for the revival of the once-important company the serious attention that it deserves under the current administration.
Senator Dafinone observed that DSC was too important to the steel industry in the country to be allowed to rot away.
The federal lawmaker was responding to demands by Hon. Harvest Igben on behalf of Udu APC leaders that DSC was rotting away under the private ownership, Premium Steel and Mines Limited, and called on government to reconsider the sale of the company.
He said, “Two areas were identified during the cause of the interaction that need to be properly addressed. One is DSC. DSC, coincidentally, is one of my late father’s legacy, but it is a huge asset not just to Delta Central but to Nigeria.
The asset is not yielding the desired good to the people of Nigeria, talk less the people of Udu. So, I have come to say today I will turn my eyes there to see how best we can get a better return of that place to the people of Nigeria and particularly for the people of Udu.”
Senator Dafinone, while calling for patient from APC members in the district, he assured that he would intensify efforts to ensure that people from the district were appointed into important positions in the government of President Tinubu.
While expressing readiness to build on the achievements of former Deputy President of the Senator, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, the Delta Central lawmaker promised to roll out palliatives and other schemes that will benefit the people of the district.
“The second area that needs attention is the engagement of some of our brightest and best in the party at the national level. We have positions available as the federal government is assigning to the best of the best within Nigeria.
“But in my opinion and the opinions of many of my APC leaders in Delta Central, we are not getting our fair share and some of our best and brightest are really left behind and that is another area of focus. The senator must push further to make sure more and more of the best and brightest in APC, in Delta Central are engaged in positions at the national space”, he added.
The lawmaker commended leaders and members of the party in Delta Central for their continued support and patient since he assumed office, assuring that he was determined to leave behind, at the end of his tenure, legacies that the people of the area would be proud of.
Dafinone, a top chief of Okpe Kingdom, noted that the interactive session had provided him to hear directly from the people of the district on areas of strength and weakness that requires improvement going forward.
Some APC leaders including Hon. Harvest Igben, Chief Tuesday Onoge and Barr. Hero Omuirhiriren commended Senator Dafinone for giving the district quality representation as well as helping the secure the release of the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Clement Oghenerukevwe Ikolo, from military detention.
