Prominent Urhobo leaders yesterday called on Chief Ede Dafinone to contest the Delta Central senatorial election.

The leaders, mainly politicians, professionals and businessmen, met in Abuja where they described the death of the erstwhile occupant of the position, Senator Pius Ewherido, as shocking.

The leaders who said the late senator made his family, the Urhobo nation, Delta State and the country proud, promised to begin house-to-house mobilisation for the actualisation of the objective.

“Chief Ede Dafinone is devoutly religious, faithfully discharging his duties to his family, to the senatorial district, to Delta State and to the nation. He has the knowledge and the skills to succeed in the senate,” they said in a statement issued after the meeting.

The statement, a copy of which was made available to News Express, was signed by the Chairman of Urhobo Politicians, Businessmen and Professional Forum, Chief Abel Minna. It also commended Dafinone for his contributions to the development of human resources in Urhobo land, particularly the hundreds of womentrained in hair dressing and fashion designing, tailoring, catering, welding, aluminum works, electrical and computer skills.

They Forum hailed Dafinone for training Urhobo sons and daughters in local and foreign universities as well as transforming the lives of the women in the senatorial area.

“Dafinone deserves the biggest thanks for developing the people,” the statement said, adding: “We are very impressed about his people- oriented programmes in Urhobo land. It is time for indigenes and non-indigenes in Delta Central to unite and support a person who can effectively represent them, enhance unity and provide opportunities for all.

“We want him to contest the senatorial election because of his proven leadership qualities and our belief that he can represent the area very well in the Senate.”

•Photo shows Ede Dafinone.