By Enitan Abel Johngold Orheruata, MNIPR
Senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, has insisted that the proposed Industrial Gas Park in Salubi-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State must not be relocated outside Urhobo land, warning that the economic interests of the Urhobo people must be protected in any decision concerning the project.
Dafinone, who is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, said his position followed concerns raised over land acquisition, ownership disputes and the suitability of the proposed site.
In a statement on the controversy surrounding the project, the senator said he had never opposed the Industrial Gas Park and would not support any action capable of depriving the Urhobo Nation of the investment and economic opportunities it could generate.
He explained that his knowledge of the issues surrounding the project was strengthened through legislative oversight and engagements with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
According to him, the challenges confronting the project are genuine and should be addressed transparently rather than distorted for political purposes.
“These challenges are real. Pretending otherwise or twisting efforts to address them does not advance the interest of Urhobo Nation,” Dafinone said.
The senator maintained that any adjustment to the project’s proposed location, where necessitated by legitimate technical, environmental or land-related concerns, must be undertaken through proper consultation and should not lead to the project being removed from Urhobo territory.
“My position is therefore straightforward: any decision concerning the future location of the project must not result in its removal from Urhobo land,” he said.
Dafinone said he would continue to engage the NCDMB, relevant federal authorities, community leaders and other stakeholders to resolve the outstanding issues and ensure that the project’s potential benefits are secured for the people.
He described the Industrial Gas Park as a major opportunity for investment, employment and industrial development, urging stakeholders to place the collective economic interest of the Urhobo Nation above political rivalry.
“This is not a matter that should be reduced to political propaganda or a contest over who receives credit,” he said.
The senator also dismissed suggestions that his intervention was contrary to the interests of the Urhobo people, describing such claims as false and baseless.
He said his responsibility as Delta Central senator was to defend the interests of his constituents and pursue investments and opportunities capable of improving the economic prospects of the region.
Dafinone therefore called for constructive engagement among government authorities, host communities and other stakeholders, stressing that the focus should remain on resolving the challenges surrounding the project while ensuring that its economic benefits accrue to the Urhobo people.