By Agogo Johnbull
By all standards of fair political engagement, Mr. Godwin Anaughe’s piece laden with conjectures, alarmism, and selective memory reads less like a thoughtful intervention and more like a desperate attempt to halt an inevitable tide.
That tide is the rising acceptance, credibility, and performance-driven appeal of Senator Ede Dafinone across Delta Central. To recast this organic growth as “panic” within the ranks of the APC is not only misleading; it is an insult to the intelligence of Urhobo people who can distinguish propaganda from performance.
Let us begin by dismantling the central thesis of Anaughe’s argument: that there is a “panic declaration” engineered by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. Nothing could be further from the truth. Political declarations, endorsements, and mobilizations are part of democratic culture. They are neither new nor sinister. What appears to unsettle Omo-Agege and his camp is not the process, but the person at the center of it Dafinone, whose calm, methodical, and people-oriented approach to leadership stands in stark contrast to the combative, self-promoting, and often divisive style of Ovie Omo-Agege.
For a first-time Senator, Ede Dafinone has demonstrated a level of focus and legislative commitment that deserves recognition rather than ridicule. Within a relatively short period, he has sponsored and supported bills that address fiscal responsibility, economic reform, and regional development, areas critical to both national growth and the Niger Delta’s long-term stability. His interventions in debates on revenue allocation, oil sector accountability, and infrastructure financing show a lawmaker who understands not just politics, but policy.
Beyond the Senate chamber, Dafinone has maintained consistent engagement with his constituents. From facilitating empowerment programs to advocating federal presence in underserved communities across Delta Central, he has proven that representation is not about noise but about impact. His avowed commitment to advancing the Urhobo cause in the Senate is not expressed through grandstanding, but through deliberate legislative advocacy and strategic alliances.
Contrast this with the narrative that attempts to portray him as “silent.” Silence, in this context, is clearly being mistaken for seriousness. Not every effective leader must dominate headlines daily. Some choose to work quietly and deliver results, an approach that has earned Dafinone respect across political divides.
Anaughe’s glorification of Omo-Agege as an indispensable “general” who commands organic loyalty is, at best, exaggerated. Yes, Omo-Agege has had his moments in the Senate, particularly during his tenure as Deputy Senate President. But leadership is not a lifetime entitlement. It must evolve, adapt, and most importantly, unify.
What we see instead is a pattern of over-ambition and political entitlement. Omo-Agege’s brand of politics marked by boastfulness, self-aggrandizement, and a tendency to frame every contest as a personal battle, has alienated not just opponents but also key stakeholders within his own party. His failure to participate in party congresses, for instance, is not a minor oversight; it is a direct affront to the internal democratic processes that sustain the APC. Party structures are not optional, they are the backbone of legitimacy.
Equally troubling is his consistent disrespect for the sitting governor, who, by all political conventions, remains the leader of the party in the state. Disagreements are inevitable in politics, but they must be managed with decorum and strategic restraint. Public grandstanding and subtle acts of defiance only weaken the party’s cohesion.
One of the more curious claims in Anaughe’s piece is that Omo-Agege “sacrificed” his governorship ambition for party unity. This revisionist narrative ignores the political realities of Delta State. The 2023 elections were not lost because of lack of ambition.
