The passing onto glory of Distinguished Senator David Dafinone, who represented the then Bendel Central in the Second Republic, is a great loss to Nigeria, the old Bendel State and Nigerians of goodwill.
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He was the only NPN senator from Bendel, while the rest, the late Senator Olu Akpata, Senator Justice Atake, Senator John Umolu and Senator Nosike Ikpo, were of the UPN.
Dafinone was one of the mentors of those of us who were young members of the House of Representatives. He was very accommodating and truthful. When some illiterate NPN leaders from what is now Edo State invited Dafinone and Hon. Dr. Ebiuwa Sowho, who was NPN House member, for Ethiope federal Constituency, to NPN caucus and accused the duo of attending Bendel National Assembly Forum, Dafinone told them that were first indigines of Bendel State before being members of NPN. With the forum across party lines, we were able get many projects like Koko-Ogheye road, Agbor-Evboeghae-Ugo-Oghara road, Benin- Agbenikaka-Odighi-Ifon-Akure road and Benin-Ugo-Abraka road.
In the 1982 Federal budget, in spite of the fact that Bendel State was an opposition state, Dafinone said his first loyalty was to his state. He was a great Urhobo son, a proud Bendelite and worthy Nigerian. May the Almighty God, in the name of Our Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Our Blessed Virgin Mary, grant his soul eternal rest in Jesus Name. Amen.
To the dear children he left behind, I pray God grants them the grace for “Their feets to journey together, Their hands to gather in unity, Their hearts to beat in unison, Their thoughts to be one, and may their lips pray together to gain mercy from The Eternal Father, in Jesus Name. Amen.
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Sen. Roland Owie, KSJI, Chairman, ADP National Contact Committee
