By Austin Ogwuda
Former Member of the Federal House of Representatives (Warri Federal Constituency), Hon. Daniel Reyenieju has taken Senator Ede Dafinone representing Delta Central to the cleaners over his recent comment on the renewed crisis between Urhobo and Itsekiri youths.
Senator Dafinone, in his reaction to the upheaval had condemned the violence, lamenting damages done to the UPU House in the area.
In his reaction, Reyenieju, berated the Senator for failing to acknowledge, with the same weight, the actual violence and injuries inflicted by rampaging Urhobo youths in Agbassa.
While maintaining that he condemned any form of violence, he stated that “More dangerously, the Senator’s comment that an attack on the UPU House is, by extension, an attack on the entire Urhobo Nation is reckless, divisive and unbecoming of a Legislator.
“Such a statement amounts to ethnic incitement. The UPU is an important socio-cultural organization, yes – but it does not embody or equate to the collective destiny of Warri Federal Constituency or Delta State. To frame an incident in such catastrophic ethnic terms is to deliberately inflame tensions rather than calm them.
“This is typical of Senator Dafinone — hiding under the cover of his high office to ventilate long-standing bias and ethnic sentiment. As a senator of the Federal Republic, his duty is to de-escalate, not to throw petrol on already burning embers of conflict.
“Where was his voice when innocent people were attacked by Urhobo youths of Agbassa? Why was there no equal outrage when human lives — the most sacred trust — were placed in harm’s way? Or are some lives less valuable than the symbolic UPU building?
“Warri”, he went on, “is home to very many and infact to all alike. No ethnic group has the right to elevate its interests above the collective peace and security of all. A senator should speak like a statesman — not like an ethnic crusader.
“I therefore call on Senator Dafinone to retrace his steps, temper his language and focus on building bridges of unity. His role demands fairness and neutrality, not incitement disguised as empathy. The people of Warri deserve peace and progress, not deliberate fueling of division”, Reyenieju further stated.
*Source: BIGPEN
Caption: pix 1: Hon Daniel Reyenieju
Pix 2 : is Senator Ede Dafinone
