Dafinone Takes Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Message to Udu, Ughelli South

Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, has urged leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Udu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of Delta State to remain committed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the economic reforms being implemented by the Federal Government are necessary to rebuild the country and create a stronger foundation for sustainable development.

Dafinone made the call during his consultation visits to the two local government areas, where he met with party leaders, stakeholders and members as part of efforts to strengthen the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The senator said the Tinubu administration inherited an economy facing significant challenges and deliberately embarked on reforms that might cause difficulties in the short term but were aimed at addressing longstanding structural problems and putting the country on a more sustainable path.

He urged Nigerians to judge the administration by the decisions being taken to reposition the country rather than by considerations of popularity.

According to him, “Being President of Nigeria no be beauty contest. The work of your President is not to shine teeth, wear fine clothes, travel round. The work of your President is to make your country better, make your own life better. That’s what the President is doing.”

Dafinone noted that reforms involving fuel subsidy, electricity subsidy, foreign exchange and taxation could have been avoided if the President’s priority had been to remain popular. He argued that Tinubu instead chose to confront difficult economic challenges despite the political consequences that could accompany such decisions.

He appealed to Nigerians to maintain faith in the President’s long-term vision, noting that global developments and geopolitical disruptions, including the war in Iran, had also affected the reform process.

Dafinone said the President remained focused on the legacy he intended to leave behind, adding that Tinubu wanted to be remembered for improving the country and the living conditions of Nigerians.

“Our President has his eye on the legacy he wants to leave. He wants to be able to tell Nigerians that he fixed the country; he made the country better for Nigerians,” he said.

The senator also drew attention to Nigeria’s economic position in the 1960s, comparing the country’s development trajectory with countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, which, according to him, were once at comparable levels of development.

He said Nigeria still possessed the human resources and entrepreneurial capacity required to regain lost ground, stressing that the country’s greatest resource remained its people.

“The truth, the secret of Nigeria is Nigerians. Nigerians are the most intelligent people in Africa by far,” Dafinone stated.

He also addressed the religious considerations that, according to him, influenced voting patterns in Delta State during the 2023 presidential election.

Dafinone said some Christian voters were influenced by fears that a Muslim presidency under Tinubu could lead to the Islamisation of the country. He, however, urged Nigerians to examine the administration’s policies and actions rather than base their assessment solely on religious sentiments.

The senator further highlighted the emerging relationship between the Federal Government and the Delta State Government, saying the emergence of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the APC at the federal and state levels had created an opportunity for stronger collaboration and increased federal support for the state.

He said the relationship between President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori could facilitate greater development opportunities for Delta State.

“Our Governor has a direct line to the President. We senators get direct line to the President. It will allow us to bring back many, many dividends,” he said.

Dafinone therefore urged APC members in Udu and Ughelli South to convert the political alignment between the federal and state governments into grassroots mobilisation and electoral strength ahead of 2027.

He stressed that electoral victory begins at the polling unit and commended the recent restructuring of the APC following its congresses, which he said had placed greater responsibility on ward and local government leaders.

“All politics is local,” he declared, urging party leaders to return to their respective wards, mobilise members and ensure that every polling unit contributes to the party’s performance in the 2027 elections.

The senator called for unity among APC members, warning that internal divisions could undermine the party’s prospects.

He said the objective should be to deliver all APC candidates rather than allow individual interests to weaken the party’s collective effort.

“We must deliver all candidates, every candidate of the party, five over five,” Dafinone said, urging members in Udu and Ughelli South to work together in support of President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori and other APC candidates.

Also speaking, the member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, called on residents of the three local government areas to support President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Waive cited the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre in the constituency, which he said had created more than 800 jobs for indigenous residents.

He urged the people to support the APC as a way of sustaining the benefits of government programmes and employment opportunities in the constituency, calling for a “five-over-five” victory for the party.

The lawmaker also described President Tinubu as a friend of the Urhobo people and pointed to the cordial working relationship between the President and Governor Oborevwori.

According to him, the cooperation between the Federal Government and the Delta State Government could create further development opportunities for the Urhobo people, particularly residents of Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu.

Other leaders who spoke during the consultations included the Delta Central APC Chairman, Chief Paulinus Akpeki; Chief John Oguma; Chief S. K. Panse; Chief Odebo; and other prominent APC leaders from the two local government areas.

The chairmen of the two local government areas and other party leaders also expressed their readiness to mobilise their wards and communities for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections