David Dafinone (1927-2018)

With like minds to found the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

He thereafter aspired to lead the country as her president, for which he mobilised men and resources to begin the Dafinone for President campaign.

However, the dream was aborted in mid-September of 1998 due to a protracted illness.

He was flown abroad and after four months he recovered fully.

By January of 1999 when he returned, political activities had gone too far to be reversed in his favour.

Undaunted, Dafinone later joined the National Democratic Party, NDP but his desire to fly the party’s presidential flag in 2003 was not successful as he lost the ticket to Senator Ike Nwachukwu.

Awards, honours:

His humanitarian service manifested in various forms, particularly his pivotal role in the construction of the Orodje of Okpe’s palace, a project that was completed in 1997.

He had also been functioning as chairman and patron of sundry bodies in Okpe Kingdom.

In recognition of his immense and selfless contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Okpe Kingdom, he was honoured in 1997 with the traditional title of Owhere 1 of Okpe Kingdom by the Orodje of Okpe.

An award of certificate of excellence for professional practice by the Delta State Government was also given to Senator Dafinone in September 1997.

In 2001, he was awarded the ICAN Certificate of Merit for Outstanding contributions to the Accounting profession by the institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

And in 2003, the Federal Government conferred on him the National Honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR.

On August 1, 2000, Guinness World Records recognised Senator Dafinone as the patriarch of the family with the highest number of chartered accountants (who are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England Wales) in one nuclear family – a recognition that has received resounding ovations from far and wide.

In 2006, he received a ‘definite entry’ in the Cambridge Blue Book for an outstanding contribution in the field of accountancy.

Married to Chief Cynthia Watson Dafinone, the elder statesman was blessed with three sons and two daughters.

Interestingly, all of them are qualified and chartered accountants, a world record.

They all had degrees in economics. They are all, today working for the same firm, Horwath Dafinone.