By Derick Peretengboro

The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Delta State Governor, Ossai Ovie Success, has defended Senator Ede Dafinone against claims that he has not done enough to advance the campaign for the creation of Ethiope State.

Reacting to a statement issued by the Ethiope State Creation Committee, Ossai described allegations that the senator had failed the Urhobo cause as inaccurate and misleading. While acknowledging the committee’s commitment to the state creation campaign, he maintained that the public deserves an objective account of Senator Dafinone’s contributions.

According to him, the Delta Central lawmaker has spent the past three years pursuing development through strategic engagement rather than public confrontation. He said the senator has facilitated federal empowerment programmes for youths and women, supported students across the Urhobo nation through scholarships and bursaries, and attracted federal interventions and constituency projects to communities within Delta Central.

He also noted that Senator Dafinone has consistently represented Urhobo interests in the National Assembly by speaking on issues relating to oil and gas, security, and the welfare of the region.

On concerns affecting Okpe communities, Ossai stated that the senator has maintained regular engagement with traditional rulers, security agencies, and relevant government institutions to safeguard ancestral lands and ensure that youths are treated fairly whenever security-related issues arise.

Addressing the campaign for Ethiope State, he insisted that Senator Dafinone remains fully committed to the proposal and has been actively championing it at the federal level.

He referenced the lawmaker’s presentation during the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review public hearing held in Yenagoa, where Senator Dafinone argued that creating Ethiope State would correct historical imbalances affecting the Urhobo people, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic nationalities.

According to Ossai, the senator outlined the proposed state’s economic strengths, including its oil and gas resources, fertile agricultural land, access to seaports, mineral deposits, and established educational and industrial institutions. He also argued that the proposal satisfies constitutional requirements for state creation, including defined territorial boundaries, economic viability, legislative backing, and public support.

The media aide further explained that achieving state creation requires sustained consultation, technical planning, and broad political consensus rather than media campaigns. He said Senator Dafinone has deliberately adopted a strategy of engaging relevant institutions and stakeholders to improve the chances of success.

Responding to specific allegations, Ossai dismissed claims that the senator had done nothing for the Ethiope State campaign, describing his Yenagoa presentation as part of the official proceedings of the National Assembly. He also rejected suggestions that receiving a memorandum in support of another state proposal amounted to endorsing it, saying such actions are constitutional responsibilities and should not be misinterpreted.

He added that Senator Dafinone attended the constitutional review hearing not for publicity but in his capacity as Vice Chairman of Senate Committees and as the highest-ranking elected federal representative of the Urhobo people.

Ossai concluded by reaffirming that Senator Dafinone considers the creation of Ethiope State both achievable and necessary for promoting fairness, balanced development, and greater inclusion within Nigeria’s federal system. He urged Urhobo stakeholders to remain united and avoid actions capable of weakening the campaign for the proposed state.