Tag: Peterside

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, and the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature, have disagreed on Tuesday’s shooting in the Niger Delta state of the supporters of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari.

Peterside, a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency of Rivers State, yesterday in Port Harcourt, insisted that the APC members were shot by masked thugs who were working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), without any provocation.

Bature, who spoke through the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), claimed that the attackers were armed robbers.

The Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had earlier stated that while Buhari’s supporters were moving from Asari-Toru (Kalabari) and Khana (Ogoni) local government areas of Rivers State to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex, Igwuruta, near the Port Harcourt International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday for the inauguration of the presidential campaign, they were ambushed and shot at.

Peterside, while also speaking, condemned the unwarranted and simultaneous attacks on the members of the APC at three different locations: Elele; between Kpoki and Kira in Ogoniland, as well as between Emohua and Sa-Ama-Abalama axis, all of Rivers state, with seven persons injured and some of them still unconscious. They are being treated at the Kesley Harrison Hospital, Emenike Street, Mile One, Dibou, Port Harcourt.

Bature said: “On January 6  at about 1240 hours, information by a Good Samaritan was received that on the same date, at 0500 hours, between Yeghe (in Gokana LGA of Rivers State) and Sakpenwa in Tai LGA, some unidentified armed men, suspected to be armed robbers, attacked innocent commuters.

“Police patrol vehicles raced to the scene, where they cleared the roadblock, combed  the forest around the scene, where the armed robbers suspected to have fled to and maintained presence.

“Information received later indicated that a commuter bus was attacked at the scene where some victims sustained varying degrees of injuries. The victims were traced to a hospital, where they are responding to treatment.

“The case is under investigation, while aggressive manhunt of the fleeing armed robbers is ongoing. The command further reiterates its determination to providing adequate security to all, as demonstrated by the effective crowd and traffic control within and around the venue of the launch of the presidential campaign of the APC, which ended without any adverse incident.”

Peterside, while also speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, through the Director of Communications of his Greater Together Campaign Organisation, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who is also Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, declared that the Rivers Police Commissioner lied in his armed robbery claim.

Rivers APC’s governorship candidate said: “It (Bature’s armed robbery claim) is nothing than a hasty and unprofessional job done by a security agency associated with partisanship and allegiance to the PDP.

“We are shocked at the speed with which the police in Rivers State concluded their so-called investigations, which to us would be record-breaking, considering their appalling records in investigation.

“It is reprehensible for the police to link what were deliberate, orchestrated and well-coordinated attacks carried out at three different locations in different local government areas simultaneously to armed robbery.

“The police should train their men in investigations and their public relations officers in the act of delivery. If at no other time, the police in Rivers and their spokesman got it wrong this time. The armed attacks were deliberate, orchestrated and well-coordinated against APC members in Asari Toru and Khana councils.

“We are shocked that the police in Rivers State, in a glaring, partisan manner would misinform and mislead Rivers people who know the truth and the reason behind the armed attacks against APC members. We are bothered that the police in Rivers, which ought to be apolitical and non-partisan, have again shown where their loyalty lies. That is bad enough, much as it is condemnable.”

Peterside also stated that he stood by his earlier position that the gunmen, who attacked the innocent APC supporters, who were on their way to exercise their freedom of association, were working for APC’s opponents in the February general elections and not armed robbers.

The Rivers APC’s governorship candidate urged the police in the state not to further ridicule their already battered image by turning the second spokesman for the PDP.

The Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, has received the endorsement of the Ikwerre Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers in Isiokpo, the spiritual and traditional headquarters of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality.

The Council declared Peterside the sole governorship candidate of the Ikwerre nationality for the February 28 election. The Council comprises first class and all Government-recognised traditional rulers in the four Ikwerre local government areas, which comprise Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Emohua and Ikwerre.

The Council, which declared that its endorsement of Peterside was out of its resolve to uphold equity and justice by ensuring that the riverine section of the state produce, the next governor, emphasised that by its action, no other governorship candidate would receive its endorsement. The paramount rulers enjoined all Ikwerre indigines to support Peterside.

Addressing the Council and other Ikwerre stakeholders, Peterside, who was received by Eze Blessing Wagor, JP, Nye Weli Isiokpo, other members of the Council and a mammoth crowd of APC supporters, underscored the importance of Rivers people making the right and necessary decision in choosing the next governor. We, members of the Ikwerre Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, at this moment endorse you, Dakuku Peterside, and declare that all sons and daughters of Ikwerre nationality, the four local governments that make up Ikwerre nationality – Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Emohua and Ikwerre – should rally round you. Having said that, on behalf of the Supreme Council, I am presenting him to the people.”

Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, has said his administration will focus on job creation to end insecurity, if elected in next month’s election.

Peterside spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at the opening of a secretariat built by the Generation of Peace (GOP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), supporting his governorship ambition.

The lawmaker representing Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni in the House of Representatives noted that poverty, caused by unemployment, was the reason for the spate of insecurity in the state.

He promised to create more jobs to ensure a meaningful source of living for the residents.

According to him, the modalities were in place to achieve the plans.

Peterside said: “As a member of Generation of Peace, I will partner you in the following areas. We will work for peace in this land. A hungry man cannot be a peaceful person. If we truly want peace, we must address those things that are the root causes of the crisis in the state, or anything else that is inimical to peace.

“One of those things we must address is poverty. We will take steps to create jobs for our people. When our people are employed, they have less time for violence, less time for crisis. So, we must work very hard to create jobs for our people.

“The modality has been put in place for employment generation in the state. When there is the right  environment for people to pursue their life’s aspirations, security, the right infrastructure, good roads, power and all other infrastructural systems, then investors, foreign and local, will be attracted into the state and jobs will be created.

“When we are able to build industries, so many persons will be meaningfully and gainfully employed. When they are gainfully employed, no matter the pressure, they cannot be violent.”

The governorship candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside says, his administration would focus on job creation to end all forms of insecurity in the state if he is elected in the forthcoming general elections.

Peterside stated this in Port Harcourt, the State capital, during the official opening of a secretariat built by the Generation of Peace (GOP), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), supporting his governorship ambition.

The law maker representing Opobo/Nkoro/ Andoni  LGA in the Federal House of Representative, identified poverty driven by unemployment as reason for the spate of insecurity in the state. He promised to create more job opportunities to ensure meaningful source of living for residents of the state, stressing that the modalities are already in place to achieve this.

He said, “As member of Generation of Peace, I will partner with you in the following; we will work for peace in this land. A hungry man cannot be a peaceful person. If we truly want peace, we must address those things that are the root cause of crisis in the state, or anything that is inimical to peace.

“One of those things we must address is the issue of poverty. We will make sure we take steps to create employments for our people. When our people are employed, they have less time for violence, less time for crisis. So we must work very hard to create employment for our people.

“Modality have been put in place for employment generation in the state. When there is the right environment for people to pursue their life aspirations, security, right infrastructure in place, good roads, power and all other infrastructural systems, then investors, both foreign and local, will be attracted into the state and jobs will be created.

“When we are able to build industries, so many persons will be meaningfully and gainfully employed: when they are gainfully employed, no matter the pressure, they will not get involved in violence.

“My definition of Rivers people is anybody that lives here and does business and pays tax here, every such person deserves to be called a Rivers man, and is entitled to the good things Rivers State has to give to its citizens,” he said.

Earlier in a statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Collins Ehimieghe (rtd), had explained reason for the NGOs decision to throw its weight behind Peterside’s candidacy, saying it is as a result of his leadership style and exemplary life style.

Ehimieghe said, our desire as generational shift campaigners is to work and deliver the governorship seat of Rivers State to a man we see as a teacher, a friend and for some of us a mentor, Dr. Dakuku Adolphus Peterside. We therefore believe without any tinge of equivocation that our aspiration for one of our own, steering the ship of state has already materialized.

“We are particularly attracted by one item amongst our candidate’s four-fold action plan for Rivers state, which is wealth creation. Productivity is the key to wealth creation and our candidate believes that the solution is job creation. Therefore, we in GOP believe in his vision and plan for the state.”

He assured the commitment of the group to ensure issue based campaign to sell their candidates to the wider electorates to ensure his victory at the poll.

A Reverend Sister and matron of the Home for the Elderly, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Reverend Sister Jane Raphael, has described the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Dakuku Peterside, as a compassionate and God-fearing man.

Rev. Sr. Raphael spoke when Peterside visited the home to fete the elderly. She said the APC standard bearer is known for always celebrating with the less privileged.

“When I saw your photograph, I concluded that God has already chosen you because we always pray to have God-fearing people.  We promise you our daily prayers and may God bless and reward you. May He also bless everybody supporting you and may your efforts be crowned with success. And by Easter, I hope to see you again.”

Peterside called for better care and support for the aged and thanked the management and staff members of the home for caring for the elderly.

Peterside described old age as a natural phenomenon, adding that for as long as the earth remains, there will continue to have old people. Old age, he said, is not a curse.

“Therefore, the elderly must be loved and cared for by anybody who is still physically and mentally alert. ”

A statement by the Director of Communication of the Greater Together Campaign Organisation, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said Peterside was accompanied by his wife, Elima and campaign officials.

THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, has promised to tackle insecurity, in order to boost economic development in the state, if elected governor in 2015.

He gave the assurance yesterday in Bonny Island, when he visited the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple, and the Bonny Council of Chiefs, to seek the blessing of the monarch.

Peterside stated that if elected as governor next year, his administration would ensure development in every part of the state. The APC’s governorship candidate was led on the courtesy visit to the Bonny monarch by the traditional rulers of Opobo and Nkoro in Peterside’s Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers state, headed by Alabo Prof. Dagogo Fubara of Opobo and Alabo Okamsin, the traditional ruler of Nkoro.

Peterside, an indigene of riverine Opobo and a member of House of Representatives representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro constituency, said: “Today (yesterday), security cannot be taken for granted. On our waterways, we hear about the activities of pirates. On land, you hear criminal activities everywhere. I do not think that is the state we deserve and desire. So, for government, our primary responsibility should be security of lives and property and I will make that my first priority if I am given the mandate to govern Rivers State.

“Your Majesty, you know as I do sir, that without security, nobody can invest in this state. Therefore, nobody can create jobs and when we do not create jobs, our children will be idle and criminality will further escalate.

“Your Majesty, I say the choice of who becomes governor of Rivers State demands diligence in making that decision. By the special grace of God, the founding fathers of Rivers State had a dream of a great state, to be the pride of not only Nigeria, but that of Africa.

“Our fathers had laboured, they had toiled, they made sacrifices and we have made a lot of progress, but we are not where we desire to be. Several years ago, the situation was worse than it is today, but by the contributions of leaders like your good self and some of our political leaders, we have accomplished some mileage. There is so much work to be done.”

The Executive Director of Youth and Women Advancement Initiative (YAWAI), Miss Pretty Karibo, has urged women in Rivers State to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, in next year’s election.

Karibo spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during a visit to the Dakuku Adol Peterside campaign office.

She said: “It is in our interest to support a candidate who already has an agenda for women. I have always argued that women should not wait until elections are won before they start negotiating. Dr. Peterside is a gentleman who has assisted women across the length and breadth of our state. This is, therefore, our chance, and we must take it.”