In a heartfelt statement issued on Thursday, December 4, 2025, the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Ede Dafinone, extended warm congratulations to former Delta State Governor and immediate past Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The Renewed Hope Initiative, pet project of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has continued to gain traction across the six geopolitical zones as a platform for empowering women, youths, children, and vulnerable groups through education, economic empowerment, agriculture, health, and social investment programmes. The decision to appoint zonal coordinators drawn from different political backgrounds is widely seen as a deliberate move by the Tinubu administration to give the initiative a non-partisan, all-inclusive outlook and ensure it reaches every nook and cranny of the country.
Senator Dafinone, a ranking member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), described the appointment as “timely, strategic, and well-deserved,” stressing that Dr Okowa brings to the table an unparalleled wealth of administrative experience, political sagacity, and grassroots mobilisation capacity that will significantly enhance the visibility and impact of the Renewed Hope Initiative in the South-South region.
“On behalf of the APC family in Delta State and my constituents in Delta Central, I join millions of well-meaning Nigerians to felicitate with our former Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on this meritorious appointment,” Dafinone said. “This is a clear acknowledgement of his sterling leadership qualities, his deep understanding of the socio-economic dynamics of the Niger Delta, and his proven track record of delivering people-oriented projects during his eight-year tenure as Governor of Delta State.”
The Delta Central lawmaker noted that Dr Okowa’s tenure (2015–2023) was marked by massive infrastructure development, youth empowerment schemes such as YAGEP and STEP, deliberate inclusiveness of women in governance, and sustained peace-building efforts across ethnic nationalities in the state. These credentials, Dafinone argued, make the former governor uniquely qualified to coordinate the Renewed Hope Initiative in a region that has historically demanded equitable attention and inclusive development.
Dafinone equally commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he called “a masterstroke of statesmanship and political inclusion.” According to him, the appointment of a prominent opposition figure like Dr Okowa to such a sensitive and strategic role demonstrates the President’s commitment to national cohesion and his readiness to harness talents irrespective of party affiliation for the greater good of Nigeria.
“This gesture by Mr President sends a powerful message that the Renewed Hope Agenda is truly for all Nigerians, not just card-carrying members of the APC,” Dafinone stated. “It shows maturity, magnanimity, and a genuine desire to heal old political wounds while building bridges across the Niger. It is a clear departure from the winner-takes-all mentality that has often hampered our national development in the past.”
The Senator urged traditional rulers, community leaders, religious bodies, youth organisations, women groups, professional associations, and all stakeholders across the six South-South states (Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Edo) to extend maximum cooperation to Senator Okowa as he assumes the new role.
He emphasised that the Renewed Hope Initiative, with its focus on education scholarships, skills acquisition, micro-credit for women, agricultural support, and health outreach, has the potential to touch millions of lives in the zone if properly coordinated. “Now is the time to put aside partisan differences and rally behind programmes that directly improve the welfare of our people,” he added.
In his closing remarks, Senator Dafinone prayed for divine wisdom, sound health, and unwavering strength for Dr Okowa as he takes on the new assignment, expressing optimism that the former governor will once again distinguish himself as he has always done in previous national and state assignments.
The appointment of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has continued to generate positive reactions across party lines in the South-South, with many describing it as a round peg in a round hole. Political observers believe the move will not only strengthen the acceptance of federal government programmes in the region but also open fresh avenues for dialogue and collaboration between the ruling APC and opposition elements in the Niger Delta.
As Nigeria battles economic hardship and strives to deliver the dividends of democracy to the grassroots, gestures such as this appointment reinforce hope that the Renewed Hope Agenda can indeed live up to its name by uniting Nigerians around common developmental goals rather than dividing them along political or ethnic lines.
