Ede Dafinone: Here comes a Global Icon and Man of Character

By Onajite Agbama

There is definitely an issue of character with Prof Charles Soludo and his desperate search for power and relevance in Nigeria. Nigerians should therefore beware of so-called intellectuals without character and wisdom because this combination is fatal… Dr Nkonjo Iweala.

The above statement is said to be from the iconic Dr Nkonjo Iweala, one of the best Ministers for Finance Nigeria had ever had. She was said to have described Charles Soludo, former CBN governor as an intellectual without character and wisdom. The total of her submission is that a man may be academically sound, and he may command so much power and influence, but if such a man lacks character and wisdom, such a man may end up attracting disaster to the people.

A man who desperately searches for power and relevance may end up being a danger to the polity. Okonjo Iweala had warned Nigerians to beware of such characters. That is the same warning that one may hand down to the Urhobo nation as we search for a proper and fit person to represent Delta Central in the senate.

When, for instance, we complain about the desperation of Atiku Abubakar for the office of president, our people should locate his extreme anxiety to be in Aso Rock in the import of the statement by Okonjo Iweala. Atiku has been running for president for over 30 years. He ran for president in the days of M.K.O Abiola way back in 1992/93, which was 30 years ago. Today he is still running for the same office and PDP could not see through the lines to decipher the desperation located in his ambition.

For Ighoyota Amori, he first ran for senate in 2011, got elected in 2015, was kicked out in early 2016, ran again in 2019 and today he is on the ballot again for the same office. Chief Ighoyota Amori is desperately in search for power and relevance. The man is obsessed with the power which eluded him since Ibori left office. His power was reduced drastically since the days of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan. The influence and powers at his disposal during the days of Ibori have been drastically eroded under successive governments since Ibori left Denis Osadebey House. Since then, he has been so, so desperate to regain power to be relevant again in the system.

What Ighoyota Amori has failed to understand is that power is transient. His time has long gone and when you continue to search for power after you have used up your opportunity, you may grapple and struggle in vain. It took a woman to trounce Amori in 2019. He still did not get the message. His coming again is going to bring greater humiliation on his path because you cannot eat your case and have it.

In terms of character, quality and integrity, Amori is no match for Ede Dafinone. Dafinone is a global icon with the finesse and erudition of a matchless professional. He has distinguished himself outside politics and this is the hallmark of excellence that defined global political icons. Real politicians who are making waves on the global scene are men and women who have distinguished themselves in their private lives, not those without any visible means of livelihood who decide to feed on the pecks of office. In the private sector where he had defined excellence in performance and character, Ede Dafinone is a role model.

But that cannot be said of Chief Ighoyota Amori. Amori dropped from nowhere to hit gold through his closeness to James Ibori, not because he is exceptional in any way but because Ibori chose to make him the cynosure of all eyes. But Ede Dafinone worked hard to cut a niche for himself. He knows the significance of hardwork and excellence in service delivery. However, Amori is in the race, banking on the support from those Ibori dispensed political patronage to through Amori. It is not about his character and the quality of his moral bearing and capability for service delivery. Ede Dafinone is in the race, armed with an uncommon gait as an iconic professional prepared by divine providence for a time like this.

To leave politics for the politicians is one grievous error that has been impugned on Urhobo honour over the years. The Senate is the assemblage of national icons from all walks of life, not just common politicians but men and women who have distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavours. In the Senate, there are professors, senior medical doctors, Senior Advocate of Nigeria who has risen to the peak of the legal profession, former governors, senior media practitioners and many others. Here we have a Chartered Accountant of International repute, a man who has worked in top-notch global institutions, solving difficult riddles in financial management and accounting, a man of distinction who has done Urhobo proud as a global phenomenon, not some local political warlords who rode on the ‘political grave’ of others to attain some level of relevance.

Ede Dafinone should be properly located as a man of distinctive character, a rare breed, sought after by global financial institutions. Dafinone is an uncommon discovery and nothing drove him into the race other than patriotism and the desire to make Urhobo proud as a renowned professional who would be properly placed in vantage positions to attract the best to the land in the coming dispensation.

Urhobo should not play politics with this lone seat that belongs to them in the Senate. The Senate is not about thuggery and insensitive arrogance. Ighoyota Amori is a certified thug, an area father and father of thugs. We know him here in Ethiope West. Sending the very best to the senate is one thing that must be done across parties. Amori is no match for Ede Dafinone in terms of character and class. The best of them all is Ede Dafinone. Let’s send him and be sure of better days ahead.

Onajite Agbama writes from Oghareki, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State