Tag: Peterside

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate  in Rivers State Dr. Dakuku Peterside has supported calls for the deregulation of the petroleum industry.

Peterside, in a statement by his media aide, Sylvester Asoya, added that subsidising fuel consumption was not sustainable.

 Peterside, who was former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), said he was happy that Nigeria is gradually coming to terms with some realities in its oil and gas sector.

 He said: “We cannot afford to be impractical with issues in our oil sector because they are too important. Before now, we had spoken on the need to face head-on, all the recurring problems in this critical sector, given the fact that we still run a mono-economy. But for many years, nothing changed. Today, it is gratifying to note that the conversation is gradually changing; this is good for our country.

 ‘There is no argument about the benefits of deregulation but we must also deal with the issue of corruption. I had said severally that there is need for comprehensive reforms, not piece-meal approach if we hope to record the much-needed leap in this sector.

 “Deregulation obviously will boost domestic participation; eliminate the unwholesome activities of some business men and encourage direct foreign investments.

 “We all agree also that deregulation will open new opportunities and frontiers for Nigerians and Nigerian businesses because there will be fair competition and level-playing field. I had insisted over the years, that subsidy in its current form, is unsustainable. My position has not changed. So it is good that the issue is being revisited now.

 “But for us to obtain optimum benefits under deregulation, it is important to state that as we provide a conducive environment for people to invest, we must also put the necessary quality control checks in place. Let me in addition, emphasize that products must be readily available, which also means that our refineries must redouble their efforts so that we can fully consolidate and profit from the gains of deregulation.”

The APC chieftain, in another statement on the International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and its Abolition, urged victims of slave trade, particularly Africans and other people of colour all over the world, to forgive the heinous crimes against their forebears by traders and slave owners of that ignoble era. But he also stated that a day like this reinforces the need for deep sober reflection, not just for victims alone but for the entire world.

 Peterside said though the world had long moved on, Africans and other casualties of slave trade must not forget that dishonourable past that threatened their humanity and existence.

He said:  “Today, we remember African slaves and other people who, some centuries ago, and under very humiliating conditions, were forced on a journey of no return to the New World as labourers.

 “No experience would have been more shattering especially when one considers the fact that these slaves were uprooted from their homes and taken into captivity, essentially for profit.  Hundreds of years have passed but the scars of slave trade are all too evident and still fresh because of developments across the world today. For instance, issues of human trafficking and modern-day slavery are still widespread. This is the reason world leaders and others in authority owe our common world, the duty of working for the freedom of all.

 “Therefore it is imperative as we mark this day, to condemn unequivocally, modern- day slavery and racially motivated crimes wherever they are found in the world. In recent times, many people of colour have lost their lives to police brutality and organised crime. Acts, such as these, diminish humanity and we must join hands to ensure that our world becomes safer and better.

 “In conclusion, we must not fail to remember those who worked tirelessly to end slave trade. Worthy of note here were great African abolitionists like Olaudah Equiano, Quobna Ottobah Cugoano and Ignatius Sancho for inspiring hope and founding the group: ‘The Sons of Africa’ that campaigned for abolition. We also remember today as always, John Wesley and his Methodist Movement, and other non African abolitionists who supported the fight against slave trade. Their efforts and contributions changed the history of the world and they will forever be remembered for taking a stand”.

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State Dakuku Peterside  has praised members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State for defecting to the  APC.

Peterside,who spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, urged them to imbibe the progressives ideals of APC so that the people of Niger Delta could develop their region.

“Today, the people of Niger Delta stand on the threshold of history. What we do with our lives and our future depends on our choices at the moment.  We have come a long and tortuous way in our struggle to draw attention to our peculiarities as a people desperately in need of special attention because of our challenges as an oil-bearing region. Today, our story is changing significantly and we are grateful to the APC and this new administration.

“In less than three months under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, we can see tangible signs that point to a greater tomorrow.

“Apart from the President’s momentous decision to fast-track the long-expected implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland, we are also witnesses to the dramatic changes at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“For us in the Niger Delta, these are interesting times and we must sustain this momentum by supporting the President who, less than three months in office, did what our son could not do in over five years.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Security operatives yesterday tear-gassed Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11 election, Dakuku Peterside, and Senator Magnus Abe at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

Peterside and Abe led a team of 48 candidates who contested in various elections in the state and reporters to submit a protest letter to INEC’s Acting Chairman, Hajia Amina Zakari, against the state Resident Electoral Commission (REC) for allegedly refusing to give them certified true copies (CTC) of the materials used in the elections.

The APC candidates, who arrived at the INEC headquarters at 11:15am, were prevented from getting close to the gate by a combined team of mobile police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The security agencies insisted that the team would not be allowed to go beyond the barricaded areas since it had no prior information of the visit.

INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of security, Victor Egbun, told the party stalwarts that they could only send a representative to meet the commission’s acting chairman and submit their protest letter to her.

The team comprised former House of Representatives members, like Andrew Uchendu, Otelemaba Amachree, Dawari George, Igochukwu Aguma, former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Rivers State APC Chairman Denis Ebiamo Ikanya.

The security officials threatened to shoot the party chieftains, if they crossed the barricaded areas.

This forced them to raise their voices and move towards the INEC gate, which the security operatives had locked.

As the APC chieftains approached the gate, chanting solidarity songs, the security officials released some canisters of tear gas in front of them and reporters to disperse the crowd.

Peterside said: “We are candidates of the APC at various categories in the last elections. We are here to register our protest to INEC.

“Immediately after the elections, in accordance with the law, we applied for the certified true copies of documents used in the conduct of the elections.

“It is unfortunate that till date, we have not got the certified copies of the election materials, even when it is clear in the law that it must be released within seven days of receiving the application. As if that was not enough, we have approached various tribunals, which have also ordered the release of the materials. But unfortunately, those orders have not been complied with till date.

“We do not have the documents to prosecute our cases. INEC in Rivers State has done everything humanly possible to frustrate our cases at the various tribunals. Dame Ghesilla Khan, who is Rivers State REC, has insisted that she was under instruction from the national office not to release the documents to us. That is why we are here to deliver our protest to INEC’s Acting Chairman.

“We have written between 26 and 27 petitions on this issue and we have not got any serious response. We are aware that the acting chairman has made several memos to the Rivers REC, asking her to comply with the law by releasing the required materials. But she has wilfully refused to comply with the law by releasing and properly certifying those documents for us to use to prosecute our cases at the various tribunals.

“All we need is for INEC to abide by the law, by releasing to us all the certified materials we have requested for. We are not asking anybody to do us any order favour. The Electoral Act is very clear: if you apply within a period of seven days, those documents must be released to you.

“I am shocked that our peaceful request and visit today was greeted with canisters of tear gas which INEC officials have ordered their security operatives to suffocate us with.”

Senator Abe expressed surprise at the way security officials treated the APC team.

The lawmaker urged the government to investigate the incident.

He noted that INEC security officials violated the delegates’ human rights by using tear gas, since they were peaceful.

Abe said: “This singular act of the Rivers REC, if not checked, could lead to a breach of the peace in the state. Our simple request is now being frustrated by the same INEC that caused the crisis in the state. The only way to ensure peace in Rivers State is to ensure that INEC obeys the law and releases those documents to allow our cases to be determined by law. We, as law-abiding citizens, will obey the outcome of our cases at the various tribunals.

“But a situation where the same person, who created this same situation, is allowed to frustrate the case, I do not know how our people would take that. Nigerians need to be aware that Rivers State is still a flashpoint, if these issues are not dealt with expeditiously…”

INEC’s Director of Security, Shettima Ngilade, after two hours, urged the APC team to obey the directives of INEC Acting Chairman and send only their representatives.

He said: “…This is a public place. We cannot refuse you entry into the premises; we have procedures of doing things.

“With the way you arrived, we had every reason to fear because even the Rivers State Electoral Commissioner is inside, meeting with the Acting Chairman. There was no prior information about your coming to the commission for us to arrange so that you can see the Acting Chairman.

“What we can only do here is to allow a few of your representatives to go inside and meet with the ACTING Chairman or you hand over your protest letter to us to give her. We cannot allow you to move in this your numbers.”

•Wike: let the defeated face reality 

Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside and the party’s Rivers Southeast  candidate, Magnus Abe, have assured the party’s leaders and members that they will regain their “stolen” mandate through the tribunal.

They said APC was making progress at tribunal, despite the alleged plot by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to frustrate the tribunal.

Peterside and Abe, who are from the same senatorial district, spoke yesterday in Bori, an Ogoni town, during the senatorial district’s meeting of APC.

The senatorial district comprises seven local governments – Opobo/Nkoro, Gokhana, Khana, Tai, Eleme, Oyigbo and Andoni.

Peterside told the party faithful that the zone needed to have faith in God.

The APC chieftain said every stolen mandate would be recovered, adding that stolen or diverted funds under the PDP administration would be accounted for when APC comes into power.

He urged the party’s members to resolve their differences and speak with one voice.

Peterside thanked APC’s supporters for not defecting to the PDP.

The APC candidate said scores of PDP members would defect to APC when the party reclaims its mandate.

He said: “We have come a long way and I know that God will lead us to the Promised Land. We know many of our cases are at tribunals. But one thing I know is that we will take back our mandate, by the grace of God. They have failed in their plot to stop the tribunal to speed up the matter and we know God will see us through.

“Those parading themselves as winners of the last general election in the state did not win any election. For us, we have a role to play. We must work as one for the good of all. There are no serious APC members, who defected to PDP because our people know that there is no future in PDP.

Abe told the party members that a motion by his opponent at the tribunal had been struck out, paving the way for a speedy hearing.

The senator urged APC members to hold on to their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and prepare for a re-run.

He accused the PDP of spreading falsehood against former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and other APC leaders.

Abe advised the members and the public to prevail on the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gesila Khan, to assist the party by releasing the requested electoral materials

He said: “We have written letters and done everything; yet, she has refused to release the document.”

The party leaders passed a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP) Report.

They restated their support for Amaechi for his achievements.

Reacting to the APC chiefs’ allegations, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said: “As is always the case, these men live in deception. To hear them talk about a matter before an election tribunal without restraint shows their eagerness to mislead their few supporters. If they had a good case, why did they involve the Department of State Services (DSS) to intimidate INEC officials. If they had a good case, why have they not released the videos of election malpractices, which they claimed they would make public. The governorship election was credible, free and fair.  Dakuku Peterside was defeated and he should be courageous enough to face the reality.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State Dakuku Peterside has described indigenous people as unsung heroes of the modern world.

Peterside,  in his message to mark the International Day for Indigenous Peoples, also called for greater understanding and cooperation among citizens of the world.

According to him, “it would have been almost impossible for the world to record today’s great advancement in different spheres of life without the support and cooperation of indigenous peoples. They are found all over the world with their unique and distinct cultures and traditions. These identities, no doubt, continue to add value to our world.

“Approximately, 400 million indigenous peoples are scattered all over the world, according to the United Nations. Evidently, the world cannot afford the dire consequences of any form of ill-treatment or infringement on their rights to self-determination, dignity, decent employment and good life.

“The world and those in authority all over the globe fully appreciate the fact that most indigenous peoples are mainly victims of colonising and expansionary activities of others but this obviously, should not rob them of their right to life.

“Therefore as we mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, let us reflect and advance those great ideals that are capable of uniting people of the world, irrespective of colour and creed. And as we live together in a changing world, let us also remember to live in mutual respect.

“In a global world as ours, we must strive always to support indigenous communities and ensure that their rights and privileges are protected”.