By Dr. Joseph Tedwins Emudainohwo.
Silent in Ikot Ekpene
At the public hearing in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Senator Ede Dafinone was part of the panel on state creation. For nearly six hours, he said nothing—except to introduce himself. Anioma State was loudly cheered. A state for the Itsekiri and Ilaje got a hearing. But Ethiope State, the Urhobo demand, never made it to the floor.
Ethiope Bill: Abandoned by Its Own Senator
On July 19, 2025, in Yenagoa, the House of Representatives finally gave Ethiope State a public hearing—thanks to Hon. Benedict Etanabene, not Dafinone. Why? Because Dafinone refused to sponsor it. His excuse? He was “already committed” to Anioma.
How does a senator justify standing with Anioma while leaving his own Urhobo people in the cold? If he feels Anioma’s cause is justice, why not Ethiope’s? Why should Urhobo keep a senator who won’t fight their battles?
Weak Voice, Weak Representation
Urhobo are bold, vocal, and unyielding. Yet in the Senate, their voice is muted under Dafinone. He doesn’t chair a single committee. He blames “first-term limitations.” But his peers—Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North) and Senator Joel Onowakpo-Thomas (Delta South)—are first-termers too, yet they head powerful committees.
So, what’s Dafinone’s excuse for being invisible in debates, absent in budget discussions, and silent on national issues—despite his reputation as a chartered accountant?
Constituency Projects: Not an Achievement
His defenders point to constituency projects. But every senator gets them. Completing them is routine, not remarkable. Real senators lobby for extra projects, attract appointments, and drive development. Dafinone hasn’t.
Senate is No Training Ground
The Senate is not a classroom. It’s a battlefield of ideas and interests. Urhobo cannot afford a senator still “learning” while others are delivering. On every front—debates, oversight, policy direction—Dafinone has been a passenger, not a driver.
A Costly Mistake for Urhobo
The verdict is clear: electing Ede Dafinone was a mistake. Unlike his father, Senator David Omueya Dafinone, he lacks the fire and grit for politics. Accounting skills don’t win battles in Abuja. Boldness, lobbying, and relentless advocacy do.
After two years of silence and excuses, Urhobo is paying the price. Dafinone does not deserve a second term. Urhobo needs a senator who will roar in the chamber, defend their interests, and deliver results. Not one who hides behind excuses.
Joseph Tedwins Emudainohwo writes from Abraka, Delta State.