• Issues appointment letters to over 180 Legislative Aides.
The Distinguished Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has said that successive federal governments have been unfair to Delta South Senatorial District in terms of infrastructural and human capital development, as well as inclusivity in governance.
Senator Joel-Onowakpo stated this on Monday at Emede, Isoko South LGA of Delta State, while delivering a keynote address at a Strategic Leadership Retreat organised for his legislative aides.
He stated that Delta South Senatorial District is one of the largest producers of crude oil and gas in the country, yet past federal administrations have shown little or no interest in development of the area and empowerment of the people.
“Whenever I think about what Delta South is contributing in terms of crude oil production and look at the deprivation that our people are subjected to, my heart bleeds. Delta South Senatorial District gives her all for this country, but successive governments have been largely unfair to us.
“There is hardly the presence of government in Delta South, and this is really alarming. The pollution we experience, the environmental degradation, the lack of infrastructural and human capital development, the little or no inclusivity in governance, etc., are all indicators showing how unfair governments have been to us for contributing so much,” he said.
The Senator, however, expressed confidence in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that the President can and will change the narrative.
“However, I have strong confidence in the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he shall do his best to salvage Delta South. I trust the President that he shall look at critical issues affecting our Senatorial District, such as environmental pollution and degradation, erosion and flooding, lack of development, poor inclusiveness in government, as well as empowerment of our people,” Joel-Onowakpo said.
While inaugurating over 180 Legislative Aides, the Senator said, “As you are aware, the office of a Senator is officially entitled to only five Aides. However, I have gone a step further to make over 180 appointments simply to accommodate all interests and to ensure that the people of Delta South get the best from my representation. This is a huge burden on me, but I have no option than to accommodate our people until government looks our way.”
He urged the legislative aides to make good use of the office to change their political fortune by working effectively to serve Delta South constituents.
Speaking on behalf of the aides, Senior Legislative Aide, Raymos Guanah, expressed delight on the vista created by Senator Joel-Onowakpo to ensure that representation gets to the grassroots.
He noted that the Senator has set an unparalleled record with the appointment, and said, “This is the first time this is happening in our Senatorial District since our return to democracy in 1999. We shall not take this opportunity for granted.”
The aides pledged to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed in them. They also promised to support the Senator in his efforts to attract development to Delta South Senatorial District.
The event was attended by prominent leaders and stakeholders from the district who came to show their support for the Senator and the Legislative Aides.