The Senator-elect, Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has said that the forth coming National Assembly would never be the rubber stamp of the executive arm of government.
He therefore advocated for a transparent and independent election in choosing the principal officials of the Senate.
Onowakpo canvassed this view while speaking to reporters in Warri.
He catergoricaly stated he would never support an imposed candidate.
The senator elect explained further his position:
“I will expect that whoever emerges should be so from a process. It is the duty of the candidates to earn the respect and trust of their colleagues. These colleagues should be able to take ownership of the leadership. Doing anything to the contrary will amount to the President-Elect taking side. So, if asked, I will say that the President-Elect, Senator Ahmed Tinubu, has not endorsed anybody to my knowledge. The field is free for all who are qualified to aspire.
The last thing that this NASS won’t want to be associated with is that “they are rubber stamp”. Even if we want to be rubber stamp, I am pretty sure that we will do it with some level of dignity. Therefore, let the best man win.”
Joel-Onowakpo disclosed that that he does not have any candidate but would support a candidate that has quality vision for the oil bearing communities of the country.
He stated that he was very passionate about the development and progress of Delta South senatorial district, a leading oil producing area.
He pledged that time has come for his people to stop receiving crumbs in the name of revenue allocation.
The Chartered Accountant and astute administrator, said his vision is to serve the people of his Senatorial District to the best of his ability, and to give them the best of representation, adding that he wants them to feel the impact of governance and enjoy visible dividend of democracy.
Said the senator elect :
“I want to leave the office better than I met it. This is why during the campaigns, I anchored my manifesto on the acronym, ‘DUE’, which stands for Drastic Infrastructure Development, Unique Empowerment Initiatives, and Effective Legislation. Being one of the senatorial districts that lay the golden egg in terms of revenue generation to the treasury of this country, Delta South deserves more than crumbs. I believe the time has come to accord Delta South what is ‘DUE’ her.”