Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, says he is determined to bring fresh perspectives to governance rather than merely following in 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 first-term lawmaker said his private sector background and international exposure would shape a distinctive style of representation.
“I don’t believe I should enter the office of Senator and do the same thing everybody else has done before,” Dafinone stated. “With my 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.”
A Chartered Accountant from Okpe, Dafinone resigned from the board of the Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank to contest the 2023 Senate election. While acknowledging the achievements of his predecessor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege — particularly in attracting federal funding for infrastructure — Dafinone said his own focus is on human capital development through skills training, employment creation, promotions, and securing federal contracts for constituents.
He disclosed that a needs assessment across the eight local government areas of Delta Central identified over 700 potential projects. His plan is to deliver 60–70 of them each budget cycle, with improved electricity access through transformers and solar-powered streetlights as a major priority.
“We ensure projects are spread across all eight LGAs without concentrating in one area,” he said. “In our first year, we quickly put things together. In the second year, we focus on areas that benefited less and gave us significant votes. By the third year, we’ll still maintain that balanced distribution.”
Dafinone described accessibility as central to his leadership style, rejecting the common political practice of limiting contact with constituents.
“I believe the more requests that come, the more opportunities I have to help,” he noted. “Whether it’s local, state, or federal issues, my office remains open. 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.”
Recognizing the role of the media, the senator promised to support DBS Warri by providing solar-powered lights to boost security at its premises, and a standard film editing suite to enhance news production — as requested by the NUJ DBS Warri Chapel executive led by Secretary, Comrade Ogheneruona Oyibo.
Earlier, Comrade Oyibo said the lighting project would help curb security challenges at the station, while the editing suite would strengthen reportage and film production capacity.
