By Theophilus Keme
“There is importance to scrutinize and crosscheck the effectivity of leaders whom the people have chosen to lead them from time to time, as it will make the leaders not to forget in hurry that they have expectations and responsibilities saddled on them”. This are the words of the famous Canadian historian Frank Hawkins Underhil, in his 1931 political journal.
The above assertion may totally relate to this article on how far the new Delta state senators across the senatorial district has been up and doing since assumption of their respective offices in June 13th
The Senate is the upper chamber of Nigeria’s bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. The National Assembly (popularly referred to as NASS) is the nation’s legislature and has the power to make laws, as summarized in chapter one, section four of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. In structure the senate is made up of 109 seats to which every seat is occupied by the various political groups in the country.
Delta state is divided into three Senatorial districts of; Delta Central, Delta South and Delta North.
DELTA CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Deputy Senate President, Ovie-Omogege of All Progressive Congress Party is the immediate past Senator of Delta Central Senatorial district, who had stayed from the 8th assembly to the 9th assembly. He is succeeded by Ede Dafinone a chartered accountant, politician, and philanthropist, notable for his contributions in the field of finance, involvement in Nigerian politics, and charitable activities.
Senator Ede Dafinone, has been on and doing since assuming office, even though the family had always been known historically for their stout contributions to the Delta Central Senatorial District and the state politics as a whole.
After taking over the baton of leadership from his predecessor who had represented the district magnificently well, Ede since his assumption of office has been a active voice in the upper chambers in sponsored bills and motions for the betterment of his people back home and Nigeria at large. Some of the sponsored bills are;
* A bill for an act to establish a Federal University of Health Education, Ughelli, Delta State
* A bill for an act to alter the 1999 constitution (to make local governments to become truly independent and to put an end to the unlawful practice of caretaker committees)
* A bill for an act to amend the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun Act 2004, Cap P16 laws of the Federation of Nigeria and for other related matters, 2021.
Senator Ede has also being recognized as an effective advocate who has moved motions that will influence better change for the people. Some of these motions are:
* Motion of SOS on the need to urgently fix the horribly dilapidated portions of the Effurun- Sapele- Benin road
* Motion on the need to stop gas flare forthwith, and for govt to cut back on deforestation nationwide.
* Motion on the need to revisit and review extant economic policies/ floating exchange rate. These and many more.
Since assumption of office, Senator Ede has shown signs to be proactive and the people have been pleased with his style of representation. The 8 local governments under Delta Central districts are: Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Sapele, Okpe, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu and Uvwie.
DELTA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Senator James Ebiowou Manager of the Peoples Democratic Party is the immediate past Senator of Delta South Senatorial district, who had stayed in the chambers from the 5th assembly to the 9th assembly. Due to his five term unbroken record in the senate, pundits have it that the title ‘The Manager of the senate’ was bestowed on him as a number of his close colleagues whom they had all began together in 2003 at a point couldn’t return or were defeated, but James Manager maintained an unbroken record till he had choose to step down in pursuit for the 2023 Pdp party ticket as Governorship aspirant.
He is succeeded by Joel-Onowakpo Thomas of the All Progressive Congress. J.O.T as he is fondly called, is a Nigerian chartered accountant, businessman and politician. He was the first executive chairman and the fifth chief executive of Delta state Board of Internal Revenue from 24 July 2009 to 22 September 2015.
Since his assumption of office there have however been a lot of debates on if the Senator would continue the good works his predecessor has been doing, considering the differences in Political groups.
However in terms of track records; Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas is an intellectual and a bureaucrat who have geared up a lot of pristine records both in the public and private sectors. His distinguished leadership acumen demonstrated in his private business life and public office was one of the effects which triggered the Federal Government to engage him as a coordinator of Delta, Edo and Rivers states at the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, in 2016, where he worked as a team with other experts in taxation. And, subsequently over the years he has served in different capacities as a business man cum politician.
Despite the arguments and debates that resounds in the streets of the senatorial districts, if he can play a general politics rather than make excuses over the party differences of his predecessor. It is worthy note that Joel-Onowakpo has the requisite qualifications, experience, knowledge, charisma and other ancillary competences that the prime citizen of this great country should possess and his affable familiarity with fellow politicians, bureaucrat, and businessmen in his native Delta state and the country at large is what, the people of Delta South should be proud about having JOT as their representative. The 8 local governments under Delta South districts are; Bomadi, Burutu, Isoko North, Isoko South, Patani, Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West.
DELTA NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Peter Onyeluka Nwaoboshi of the People’s Democratic Party is the immediate past Senator of Delta North Senatorial district, who had stayed from the 8th assembly to the 9th assembly. He is succeeded by Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko popularly known as Ned Nwoko, he is a Nigerian lawyer, philanthropist and politician.
Senator Ned Nwoko although not new to being in the legislature, has however been recognized as the most active Delta State Senator amongst others in the chambers, as since his assumption of office, the Senator has been up and doing with sponsored bills and motions which has aroused a lot of admiration across Nigeria. Some of these Bills are:
Bills By Senator NED
Diaspora Voting Bill, Self-Defense and Firearm Ownership Regulation Act, Banks’ Capitalization and Cashless Asset Acquisition Act, One-Month Rent Limitation and Landlord Registry Act. E.T.c
Motions by Senator NED
* Urgent Need for a National Dialogue with Separatist Groups in Nigeria to Genuinely and Amicably Resolve all Issues.
* Urgent Need to End Compulsory Police Reports Before Emergency Medical Treatment ( Drafted, a senator however submitted before us).
* Compelling Need to Ban Importation of All Non-essential Goods and Locally Producible Items in Nigeria.
* Need to Investigate the Incessant and Nefarious Acts of Crude Oil Thefts in the Niger Delta and Its Actors. E.T.c
Residents of Delta North Senatorial District have been on with expressing their satisfaction and happiness with the accomplishments of their Senator, Prince Ned Nwoko. As the Senator has proven beyond doubt that just within the seven months in office, he has made significant strides in improving the lives of the people he represents. Delta North Senatorial districts covers 9 local governments namely Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Nndokwa East, Nndokwa West, Oshimili South, Oshimili North and Ukwuani.
Delta State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, names after the Niger Delta and it is otherwise known as the ‘Big Heart’ of the nation.
Of the 36 states, Delta is the 23rd largest in area, 17, 698 Km’s and twelfth most populous with an estimated population of over 5.6 million as of 2016 census. Delta State is a leading producer of Crude oil and Natural gas in Nigeria, and ranks second to Rivers State. The State supplies about 35% of Nigeria’s crude oil and some considerable amount of natural gas. The nation’s second largest refinery as well as petrochemical plant are located in the state at Warri
