Senate david dafinone biography of williams

By Henry Ebireri

Senator David Dafinone will on Monday, March 12, celebrate his 85th birthday, marking still another milestone in a life that few could have imagined.

Born on March 12, in Sapele, Delta State, going to school was not quite early for the consummate chartered accountant, politician and nationalist as he had to wait and meet the physical requirement that prescribed the ability to touch ones other ear with his hand thrown across his head. But as soon as he started, there was no stopping him.

Dafinone became a pupil at Government School, Benin, from to and Edo College, Benin, from to Between and , the young Dafinone moved to Abeokuta Grammar school where he remained until completing his secondary education and emerging as the overall best candidate in Mathematics in the Cambridge School Certificate Examination in West Africa for that year. The feat automatically won him a scholarship from the then Lt. Governor of Northern Nigeria, L. H. Gobble, to further his studies overseas.

During his days at Abeokuta Grammar School, Dafinone imbibed the motto of the school that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Being a brilliant, quiet and obedient pupil, he escaped being caned by the principal throughout the years he stayed in the school. However, on his last day as a pupil at Abeokuta Grammar School in December , the principal of the school, Rev. I. O. Ransome-Kuti wondered why Dafinone was not a familiar face to him. The principal drew 18 year old Dafinone close to himself and rubbed his ears continuously for several minutes resulting in a swollen face – with a message: If you went through this school free, you will think the world that is waiting for you outside there is without any difficulties. Painfully and in tears, Dafinone responded, “Thank you, Principal” as was the tradition with Rev. I. O. Ransome-Kuti’s pupils.

He joined the civil service on  August 28, in the lower cadre as a third class clerk

Chief James Onanefe Ibori has described the death of Senator David Dafinone as an irremediable loss to the Nigerian business firmament, the Urhobo nation, Delta State and Nigeria as a whole.

He said: “Dafinone was a Jack of many trades who became master of all. Dafinone achieved this because he lived life to the fullest, embraced challenges and also excelled in everything he did.”

In a press statement issued on Monday by Tony Eluemunor, his Media Assistant, Ibori said he was privileged to have known Dafinone on a personal level as “he rendered remarkable service to Delta State as a member of the Special Advisory Council and one of the founding fathers of the People’s Democratic Party”.

Ibori said: “Though David Dafinone was globally known as a chartered accountant, one of the few ones who made it into the Guinness Book of Records – his family has the largest number of accountants in the world, he actually studied Economics. He combined this with part-time professional accountancy examinations as he progressed through the university. As he graduated with a degree in Economics, he was also acquiring his professional certificate in Accountancy at the same time.

“He worked with topflight organisations both as an Economist and Accountant. He and Chief Akintola Williams became the doyens of Accountancy in ne’s illustrious spirit had to embrace other challenges – politics, publishing, business, real estate development, among others, and he excelled in all,” the statement added.

Dafinone joined the late Jonathan Odebiyi and the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, to form the three most influential senators of the Second Republic – authoritative, in debate, carriage and highly respected across all the political parties from to

His Ceddi Plaza, Apapa, is a very visible and highly known Lagos landmark just as the Ceddi Plaza, Abuja helps to define the federal capital city’s Central Business District. Not many people may remembe

HISTORY OF SAPELE AND SAPELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN OKPE KINGDOM DELTA STATE

1.      CROWN LAND LEASES IN SAPELE

(i)                Approximately acres of land leased by Sapele Okpe community on the 3rd of December, to the British Crown which lease expired on the 2nd of January, The land has not been surrendered to the community;

(ii)             By a Deed of Lease made the 3rd day of December, between Chief Dore Numa of Benin River, Trader, acting for and on behalf of the Chiefs and people of Sapele (hereinafter called the Lessor) of the one part and James Jamieson Thorburn, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order Of Saint Michael and Saint George, Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Southern Nigeria (hereinafter called the Governor) of the other part.

Witnesseth that in consideration of the annual rent of One Hundred Pounds (£) to be paid by the Governor and his successor (as hereinafter mentioned), the Lessor hereby conveys to the Governor and his successors ALL that piece or parcel of land situated at Sapele comprising approximately acres or thereabout.

To HOLD the same in trust for His Majesty, his heirs and successors for a term of Ninety-nine (99) years according to the free interest and meaning of the Public Lands Ordinance He, the Governor and the successors yielding and paying to the Lessor the annual rent of One hundred Pounds (£) henceforth on the 1st day of January in each (4)  year clear of all taxes and deductions.

In witness whereof the said Dore Numa has set his hand and seal on the day and year above mentioned, and the said James Jamieson Thorburn has hereto set his hand and caused the seal of the Colony to be affixed this 3rd day of December, , and registered as No. in Volume 1B of the Lands Registry at the office at Warri, which said Deed is now kept at the Land Registry in the office at Asaba, Delta State;

(iii)           The lessee’s right under the said lea

Senator David O. Dafinone, OFR

A Legend @ 82

At 82, Elder statesman, Senator David Dafinone appears to be fighting the battle for the future of Nigeria. A committed and unrepentant believer and apostle of the equitable distribution of resources, the Second Republic Senator has in the past forty years mounted a strong campaign for the emancipation of the people of Niger Delta and the equitable distribution of the resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In his 15 paged – document on the Roadmap to Peace in the Niger Delta region, Dafinone outlined eight cardinal points, which he argued would serve as roadmap to peace in the oil rich but violent prone region of Niger Delta.

For example, he argued that the practice whereby entrepreneurs represented by international oil companies fail to rehabilitate and ameliorate the hazards from oil and mining exploration during and after their cessation of activities constitute a health and environmental hazard, which this Nation cannot sustain.

To stop hostage taking in the area, Dafinone said “There should be broad based consultation and dialoguing between the people, the oil companies, the state and the stakeholders.

He equally called for the establishment of a mechanism to protect oil pipelines and to create jobs for disenfranchised youths, both in and those who are already out of the creeks. Part of such strategy, he said, is the establishment of Pipelines Marshals Corporation (PMC).

He also called for the creation of an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Niger Delta. The bank, into which all royalties from the oil companies will be paid according to Dafinone, will be the custodian of the funds as well as preventing misuse of funds now and in future. The previous policies of the Federal Government, the States, Local Governments or other statutory institutions, he emphasised, have not been successful.

Dafinone also said that Nigeria would need t