BLAME NO ONE FOR PULLING YOURSELF DOWN, SEN EDE DAFINONE

-By Zik Gbemre

The media hype on Sen Ede Dafinone's commitment to the unity of Urhobo, including his outcry over perceived 'pull him down syndrome' in Urhoboland is all hypocritical.

Only failed leaders negligent of duty, dishonest and bereft of ideas cry 'pull him down syndrome' to cover their ineptitude and tactless leadership.

You can't pull down a performing politician and public officeholder. You can only pull down a political failure. Your works and character speak for you no matter the blackmail against a performing leader.

Ede Dafinone can't be his father. His father made name for himself and Urhobo as the most vibrant Senator in the 2nd Republic. And Ede Dafinone is doing too poor the job of living in the shadow of his iconic father.

Ede was brought into political office by Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege after he had tried many unsuccessful times to be senator like his father. The father, David Dafinone was a house hold name during the 2nd Republic led by President Shehu Shagari.

When Sen David Dafinone spoke on the floor of the Senate, in his era, the Senate had decided. Ede Dafinone, aside not demonstrating the vibrance and proactive demeanor his mandate demands, is also being remoted by a bunch of parochial aides and associates he chooses to surround self.

Is Dafinone not ashamed that no federal road under his district is motorable? From Ephron (Effurun) to Sapele, down to Benin, a nightmare to motorists and commuters?

At the appointment, Festus Keyamo, Ede's constituent and Minister of Aviation, he (Keyamo) announced President Bola Tinubu's approval of N2Billion for upgrade of the Osubi Airstrip Runway, Delta state.

While we expressed disgust at such insignificant budget for such a strategic infrastructure, nothing has been heard of executing even that little that was approved till date. Neither does Keyamo feels he owes Delta Central, home to the Osubi Airstrip any explanation on his impunity of silence.

But same Keyamo is in a hurry, against public disapproval, to pump N712Billion into a Lagos Airport revamp. To judiciously see through meagre N2Billion approved for Osubi, he is not interested.

What stops Sen Ede Dafinone from putting pressure on Tinubu direct urgent expansion of the Osubi Airstrip Runway in Urhoboland? Rather at every opportunity, at the slightest opportunities to face the media, he praises President Tinubu to high heavens for sacking one failed contractor to award to another with no progress still being made on the failed Ephron(Effurun)-Sapele-Benin Road.

How else do you define a political leader pulling self down and blaming innocent constituents?

A performing politician can't be pulled down. Deep in failure, he is fixated on campaign for 2027 re-election. Is Ede Dafinone worth considering for Senate 2nd tenure? Is he even self convinced he deserves a second term?

What are the achievements? He once escorted Sen Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan like her legislative aide to witness unveiling of her unprecedented first year constituency projects. Can Dafinone disprove it that all his constituency projects more than 2 years in office match the single year stewardship results posted by Natasha? Of course he was in Kogi to praise Natasha for doing what he cannot do.

As we speak, Arthur Ekpokpo, a professor of Physics and other Ewu leaders are still languishing in military detention. Okuama remains a deserted community with just one Anglican Church building left by the military after their vengefully razing the community over the tragedy of March 2024.

Dafinone can continue to lazy about and believe he is sure of retaining Senate seat come 2027? His narrow minded political aides can raise his hope and lick his boots that he has not issue with gaining a 2nd term.

The reality remains he will not get it. And that easy prediction is not out of "pull-him-down". He thinks he will get a sole ticket. He will fight for it and not get it. He doesn't deserve a 2nd term when he has pulled self down already.

Zik Gbemre

August 7,2025

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