The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peterside

  • Peterside: attack on governors barbaric

    The Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, has described as “barbaric, sadistic and dangerous” attack on Northern governors who visited Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    He accused “desperate politicians of hiring of thugs and ex-militants to deliberately embarrass Northern governors who were in Port Harcourt to pay solidarity visit to Amaechi”.

    In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Sylvester Asoya, Peterside said: “When did we degenerate to this Hobbesian and primitive state? Those who are fanning this amber of discord must be ready to reap the whirlwind. They should reflect on the events of Western Region Parliament in Ibadan that eventually led to the end of the First Republic and the disputed Ondo State election in 1983, and decide if this is the path they want to go.

    “I wonder why the police in Rivers State under the Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu chose to play politics with safety and security of the people of Rivers State and tarnish the image of Rivers people who are naturally friendly and hospitable.”

     

  • Peterside condemns invasion of Rivers Assembly by hoodlums

    Peterside condemns invasion of Rivers Assembly by hoodlums

    The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Representative, Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, has condemned yesterday’s invasion of Rivers State House of Assembly by hoodlums.

    He said: “I am horrified by the unfolding tragic drama in Rivers State and I condemn in strict terms, the wanton destruction of properties and attack on innocent people all in the name of politics in my state.”

    He warned that Nigerians must stand and denounce this growing impunity in Rivers State.

    Peterside, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Sylvester Asoya, said: “This is a great test for the Nigerian Nation, democracy and freedom and men of goodwill must rise as a people in condemnation of these attacks without any justifiable reason, except if we are all ready to face the potential damage that may befall our democracy and our future.

    “Nigerians, therefore, must not watch helplessly as Rivers State slips into anarchy in a manner reminiscent of the events leading to the civil war that did not only claim millions of lives of our country men and women but also took Nigeria many years back. Anything that touches on the legislature, an arm of government, which is a symbol of democracy, has far reaching implication on freedom and the people.”

    Like most Nigerians, the lawmaker is, however, worried by the continuous use of the apparatus of the Nigerian State to coerce, harass and intimidate those who hold dissenting opinions and perceived enemies of federal government. He emphasised that it is important not to send the wrong signal by any act that is capable of emboldening criminals.

    “It is important to apprehend and unmask the perpetrators of these crimes and those who aid and abet them through financing and other forms of support as any attempt to look the other way will not do our nation any good. It is an act of courage to protect freedom and every on looker must be reminded that great nations did not become great by wishful thinking, they acted. This is the time to act.”

     

  • Akeredolu, Peterside, Rivers ALGON, others hail Amaechi

    Akeredolu, Peterside, Rivers ALGON, others hail Amaechi

    The re-election of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is a signal to anti-democratic forces, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) Dakuku Peterside and the Rivers State’s chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) , among others have said .

    Akeredolu, in a statement, said: “I join numerous well-meaning Nigerians to congratulate Governor Amaechi for his re-election as the Chairman of the Governors Forum. This well-deserved victory sends the right signals to all anti-democratic forces who still wallow in self delusion with regard to the determination of the people to free themselves from the clueless band.

    “I salute the resilience of this man in the face of unwarranted harassment from intolerant hypocrites whose activities threaten the democratic space. I enjoin other governors to cooperate with Gov Amaechi in ensuring that the people of this country are not short-changed.

    “In the same vein, I condemn, in very strong terms, the ignoble role of Governors Jonah Jang, Dr. Rahman Mimiko and their cohorts to give the impression that there is a crisis in NGF. Governor Mimiko by declaring himself the Vice Chairman after an election which he and his paymasters lost, has only acted true to type. The people of Southwest are reputed for progressive politics. Quislings amongst us may thrive momentarily. Our people never forget to put them where they belong; footnotes in the history of the region.”

    Peterside, who represents Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State, praised the governors for supporting Amaechi whom he described as a visionary and courageous leader.

    He said: “I congratulate Rotimi Amaechi and his colleagues for emerging victorious at the polls. This is indeed a test on their character, virtue and honour and I must commend them for their resilience and commitment to the enforcement of associative rights.

    “It is a victory as victory for democracy, rule of law, due process, vision, transparency, courage, good governance and all the virtues the Rivers State governor is associated. What has happened is indeed victory for all suppressed voices in our country. What has happened today also shows that democracy, which means freedom of choice, has come to stay in our nation.”

    The lawmaker added that “the new leadership of the NGF will work with the President, the National Assembly and other political leaders to stabilise the polity, deepen democracy and expand the socio-political and economic space”.

    The Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA) and Rivers ALGON, Chimbiko Akarolo, described the re-election of Amaechi as victory for democracy, Nigerians and future leaders of the country.

    He said: “I believe that if we have true leaders of this nature in all the 36 states across the federation, then, Nigeria will actually become the giant of Africa, what we were before now.”

    Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, told reporters at the weekend in Port Harcourt, that his boss’ victory was well deserved.

    He said: “The victory of Governor Amaechi is not just one, two days back, we read in the pages of newspapers that the House Committee on Justice and Aviation in the House of Representatives has lifted the ban on the Bombadier aircraft owned by the Rivers State Government; the National Assembly called for investigation into the matter, and subsequently came out with its decision that the aircraft was owned by the Rivers State Government. That is one victory, very, very serious one in that matter. Thank God, that at the keenly contested election by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Governor Amaechi was returned for second tenure as Chairman. For us who are supporters and loyalists, we are believing God that, he was going to make it because, he was having all the requisite qualification and the flow to emerge as winner. It is victory well deserved, we give glory to God.”

  • Sale of PHCN firms in order,says Peterside

    Sale of PHCN firms in order,says Peterside

    •NESG to Govs: Don’t play politics with privatisation of power 

    Those that lost out in the bid for power Distribution Companies (Discos) unbundled from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have been asked to state the specific rules that were breached in the privatisation exercise.

    Chairman, Technical Committee, National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Atedo Peterside, threw the challenge in a chat with The Nation at the weekend.

    His reaction came hours after the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) urged governors of the states that lost out in the bid for the discos not to play politics with the privatisation exercise. Four governors – Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti),whose consortium – Southern Electricity Distribution Company Limited – lost the bid for the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (DISCO) had last Thursday opposed the emergence of Vigeo Power Consortium as the preferred bidder.The trio, at a joint news conference in Abuja, faulted the process and threatened not to allow Vigeo Power to operate in their states.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke on behalf of the others, had described the bid process, as conducted by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), as fraudulent. He also said it failed the credibility test.The Benin Disco is one of 11 distribution utilities created from the unbundling of the PHCN, and was slated for sale alongside others under the power reform and privatisation programme.

    Vigeo Power, partly owned by Mr Victor Gbolade Osibodu, had edged out Southern Electricity, promoted by Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo states, to emerge the preferred bidder at the unveiling of the commercial bids submitted by investors.

    But reacting to the allegation of fraud in the bidding process, Peterside, who is also the Chairman of Stanbic/IBTC Bank, said if the losers read and understood the rules of privatisation process, they would realise that rules were followed to the latter.

    He said: “It is sad that in year 2012 that some Nigerians will not go and read the rules before they (losers) rush to make comments. The rules (Request for Proposal) are in 72 pages.

    They should sight which rules were breached.”If they read and understood the rules, they will comprehend that the rules were followed to the latter from the very first day of the transactions. They all took part in a race and the final results have not been announced. So, if they are now faulting the entire process, it shows that something is wrong.”

    Chairman, NESG, Mr Foluso Phillips, who spoke on behalf of the Group, questioned why the governors that lost out are trying to stall the privatisation exercise despite the fact that the bidders were given equal opportunities.

    He said: “We had a bidding process in which everybody participated. If they (the governors) have a problem with the process, the issues should have been raised at the beginning of the process. Why is it that they are now complaining after the process had been concluded?

    “We are not in a military era. I don’t really know what they are complaining about because they already have 30 per cent stake in the project. Nothing should stop the privatisation exercise because the Summit believes in the deregulation of the Nigerian economy.

    The whole economy should be deregulated because government in all aspect has shown that it is not capable of running a commercial entity.

    “See what happened in the telecoms sector. We need deregulation so that the private sector can create good jobs and provide better services.”

    Besides, he said states and the Federal Government should not be allowed to much involved in the power sector because they will not be able to add value.

    “If the states and Federal Government participate, it will be more complicated because they will start fighting themselves over who sits on the board instead of looking at the commercial entity,” he said.

    Frontline financial expert, Mr Bismarck Rewane, also commended the Federal Government for opening up the power sector to private firms.Rewane, who is the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, stated that private owned firms were far better than public owned. “State monopoly is the worst structure in any country. As long as people are paying for what they using, Nigeria will be better off,” he said.

    The BPE and Vigeo Power Limited had also denied the allegation of lack of transparency and incompetence.

    BPE, in a statement, faulted the governors’ position, stating that accusation of a flawed process and irregularities against the privatisation bureau was unfounded and reckless.

    It said: “The bidding process was transparent and we followed the bible of our transaction in doing that. We did not deviate from the norm when dealing with the bidding. I think the governors are bad losers.”The Chief Executive Officer of Global Utilities Management Company (GUMCO), a subsidiary of Vigeo, Mr Abu Ejoor, also said it was wrong to allege that Vigeo does not have experience to run Discos.

    He said Vigeo, which has also been involved in a public sector initiative in the power sector for the past 11 years, has been involved in all the public-private partnership initiatives in the distribution sub-sector starting from revenue cycle management (RCM).

    Ejoor added that his company also installed over 200,000 pre-paid meters in the Benin zone and was in the region managing the process, thus making it the only experienced local player.