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Tag: Peterside

  • 2019: I’ve not resigned as NIMASA DG, says Peterside

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that ahead of the 2019 governorship race in Rivers State, he has not resigned as the helmsman of NIMASA.

    Peterside, the 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, described as childish, the insinuations, especially on social media, that he resigned his appointment to pursue a political interest, with the leader of the party in the state and Southsouth zone, Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Minister for Transportation, rejecting his rumoured resignation.

    The NIMASA chief, yesterday in an online statement by his media team, stated that disillusioned politicians and their hatchet men were behind the rumour, which he said was to give life to a lie that had no bearing and foundation.

    He stressed that he would have simply ignored the talebearers, but for many calls from concerned Rivers people, who expressed worry over the development and who were genuinely concerned about the future of the state.

    Peterside, an ex-member of the House of Representatives, reiterated that he had repeatedly told Rivers people that he would make his decision known at the right time, concerning his political interest and would follow the due process, if the need arises.

    He said: “Let me emphatically state that at no point did I resign and as such, there was no rejection of my resignation from any quarters. I have repeatedly stated that whenever I am ready to make my decision known, I will tell Rivers people and it would not be hidden.

    “I am aware that some jittery politicians, who have jeopardised their political relevance, may have resorted to blackmail and outright lies to give their waning members hope. This is not unusual, as they will become more desperate in the days ahead.”

    The former Rivers Commissioner for Works also urged Rivers people and friends of the state to ignore the unfounded rumour, maintaining that there was no iota of truth in it, while remaining focused on how to rebuild Rivers State, allegedly destroyed by the “evil” regime of Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He declared that members of the APC in Rivers remained unshaken in their resolve to sack Wike in 2019 for alleged poor performance, while members of the main opposition party would not be hindered by the shenanigans of fifth columnists.

    Peterside, who is also the deputy leader of APC in Rivers, stressed that all members of the party, under the leadership of Amaechi, would support whoever emerged as the governorship candidate of the party, towards the end of this year, for the 2019 poll.

    He said: “Every member of APC in Rivers State subscribes to the leadership of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The party at the appropriate time will give guidelines on its governorship primary election and all will support whoever wins.

    “There is no need crying wolf where there is none. Only those who have skeletons in their cupboards are panicking.”

    The NIMASA chief also admonished all Nigerians to continue to support the performing and focused administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Wike, Peterside disagree on squandering of N500m on hatchet jobs, praise singers

    The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, have disagreed on the allegation of squandering over N500 million in the last one year on hatchet jobs and hiring praise singers for Wike’s 2019 re-election.

    Peterside, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers during the 2015 election, according to his media team in an online statement yesterday, levelled the allegation against Wike, while entertaining questions from reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

    Rivers governor, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in his reaction through the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Emma Okah, however, asked the NIMASA chief to show proof of the “irresponsible” allegation of squandering over N500 million.

    Wike said: “Peterside is a confused person. He and his sources are lying. I have nothing personally against President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government, the Inspector-General of Police (Ibrahim Idris), Rivers Police Commissioner (Zaki Ahmed) and Commander of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) in Rivers (Akin Fakorede), but security matters must not be politicised.”

    Rivers governor also asked the former member of the House of Representatives to always think before talking and levelling false allegations against him and his performing government.

    Peterside said: “With fear gripping Wike that he will lose the Rivers governorship election in 2019, he has embarked on a blitz of campaigns aimed at blackmailing the Presidency, police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), army and leadership of the APC at local and national levels, among others.

    “In the last one year, Wike has been funding open and underground insurrection, aimed at portraying the Presidency in bad light, just as he has devoted enormous resources of the state to blackmail the IGP, Rivers Police Commissioner, Commander of F-SARS in Rivers State, among others.

    “With some INEC officials in Rivers State currently facing allegations of being bribed to influence the outcome of 2015 general elections, the Rivers governor has suddenly developed high fever, using all manner of platforms to denigrate the electoral body and trying to make people believe he was not a beneficiary of the election heist.”

    The NIMASA chief also disclosed that he was reliably informed by sources within Government House, Port Harcourt that not less than N500 million had been spent so far on the hatchet jobs, with another round of campaign being mobilised in the next couple of weeks.

    He revealed that the Rivers governor had recruited people specifically for the purpose of generating propaganda against President Buhari, the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Andrew Uchendu, APC Chairman in Rivers, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and himself.

     

  • ‘Peterside always upholds integrity of the courts’ 

    The President, Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation  (RIVLEAF), Chief Alex Wele, has described Nigerian Maritime and SafetyAgency (NIMASA) Dakuku Peterside as someone who always upholds the integrity of the judiciary.

    Wele, in a statement, said anything to the contrary amounts to painting Peterside in bad light.

    A group known as Freedom House accused Peterside of only upholding the integrity of the courts when it suited him.

    But, RIVLEAF said: “We read with utter dismay and shock statements credited to one Freedom House, ostensibly acting and representing the interest of   a senator wherein they embarked on half-truths and outright lies all in an effort to paint the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside in bad light.

    “But for the reason that the so-called Freedom House had chosen to dance naked and point an accusing finger at both Rt Hon Amaechi and Dr Peterside, one would ordinarily have ignored them as those who are suffering from identity crisis and lacking a sense of responsibility.

    “The truth of the matter is that Dr Dakuku Peterside appeared on a live radio programme, Rhythm’s 93.7FM View Point in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and talked about many issues including events that led to the May 5, 2018 ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “It is worth stating that some persons claiming to be members of APC had gone to court, submitting that they were denied opportunity to purchase nomination forms for the ward congress and therefore wanted the local government congress scheduled for May 12 suspended pending the determination of their reliefs in court. On Friday, May 11, barely 24 hours before the local government congress, a Port Harcourt High Court was said to have granted an order stopping the Congress from holding.”

    The group continued: “Throughout Friday evening, no one saw a copy of the court order, prompting many people to doubt the authenticity of the said ruling.

    “It was against this background that Dr Dakuku Peterside appeared on the live radio programme on Saturday morning from 8.15am-10am. Throughout the programme, he repeatedly stated that the party leadership at both state and national levels had not seen the court order and as such the Congress would go ahead until there is a contrary directive from the party. It is sheer mischief to twist the fact and say he said the court order will not be obeyed without attaching a reason to it.

    “It is also worthy to note that following a directive from the national secretariat of the party, the May 5th ward congress was cancelled and fresh ones ordered. As a loyal party member, Dr Peterside joined others to participate in the newly ordered ward, local government and state Congresses of the party, which took place from May 19-21, 2018.

    “Dr Peterside never issued any threat and so could not have disobeyed a court order that was not served on him. Congresses were conducted strictly in compliance with the directive of the national office of the party.

    “In all of these, Dr Dakuku Peterside, as a loyal and responsible member of the APC followed the party’s directive and participated in the all newly ordered congresses. He never acted on his own and had no reason to act on his own.

    “Both Dr Peterside and Rivers chapter of APC complied strictly with the directives of the national office of the party which had the sole responsibility to fix congresses with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observing. The national office of the party fixed the rescheduled congresses and, INEC and other relevant institutions were properly communicated.

    “It is therefore simply unimaginable and ridiculous that the so-called Freedom House would attempt to link Dr Dakuku Peterside to actions that tend to denigrate and disparage the court or try to portray him as a violent person.”

  • Peterside: Nigeria shall rise again

    The Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said Nigeria is gradually being placed on the path of greatness and sustainability despite challenges trailing the nation since Independence.

    According to him, Nigeria requires a faithful government that can provide veritable platform for citizens to achieve their hopes and aspirations; a process he said was gradually being wrought out by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    Stressing that the country may not be where Nigerians expect it to be after nearly 58 years of Independence, he said efforts were being made by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to put Nigeria on a sure footing.

    He listed several reforms, programmes and policies being implemented to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians as some platforms being accessed to provide succour and reflate the economy after the recession.

    “I am aware that a lot of Nigerians would have loved the country to be much better than this. But they must also understand that it takes some time, conscious and deliberate efforts to right the wrongs of the past to give the citizens’ hope and direction.

    “Despite the obvious challenges, President Muhammadu Buhari has made significant success in very many areas including infrastructural development, diplomacy, agriculture, economy and human capital development,” he said.

    Citing similar countries that have gone through the difficulties of being a better nation, the NIMASA chief appealed to Nigerians to support Buhari, while insisting that he means well for the nation.

    He commended Rivers people for their steadfastness and belief in the APC to rescue the state from the Nyesom Wike-led government that has yet to provide direction and hope for them.

     

     

  • Court ruling: Peterside tells RSIEC not to conduct council poll

    The Deputy Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has urged the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) not to  conduct next month’s council election on June 16.

    Dr Peterside was reacting to yesterday’s  Supreme Court ruling, which asked the appellant (Governor Nyesom Wike) to properly serve the 17th respondent (Department of State Services).

    The suit seeks to determine whether or not elected chairmen under ex-Governor Chibuike Amaechi could be joined.

    The Supreme Court adjourned the matter to December 18.

    According to Peterside, any action by RSIEC while the Supreme Court is yet to rule will be subjudice and of no effect.

    “I am happy that the chairman of RSIEC is a retired judge and should know better. He should advise Governor Nyesom Wike not to force him into regrettable circumstances and actions,” he stated.

    The former lawmaker declared that the Wike-led administration cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time in a matter it clearly has a vested interest.

    “The same Wike that said the High Court has nullified elections of chairmen and councillors elected under former Governor Amaechi is also the same person saying their tenure has expired. How can the tenure of those he claims were not in office expire?

    “Wike is not in a position to determine the tenure or otherwise of those elected by Rivers people. It is left for the court to determine and until that is done, any attempt at organising local government election is a sham.

    “The judiciary remains the hope of those seeking for justice and as such, the governor should not be in a hurry to foist his henchmen on Rivers people in an attempt to score cheap political points,” he declared.

    Peterside, director-general of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), called on APC faithful in the state not to be deterred by the antics of Wike and his collaborators, noting that victory is certain.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Amaechi remains leader of APC in Rivers, says Peterside

    DEPUTY leader of Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has affirmed Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi as the party’s leader in the Niger Delta state.

    Dakuku’s position followed the protests by Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) and his allies.

    He maintained that there was no faction in Rivers APC, adding that party members are united under the headship of Amaechi, a former governor of the state.

    Peterside, in an online statement yesterday by his media team, dismissed the claim by some disgruntled elements that the transportation minister had hijacked Rivers APC for personal gains.

    He noted that party members had the right to aspire to any position, just as individuals within the party also had rights to choose whoever they would support.

    The director-general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said: “Amaechi is the leader of all. Everybody subscribes to his leadership. He has no such powers to hijack the APC. He is one member of the APC. If he has the support of the majority, you will say he has the support of the majority, including myself.

    “He (Amaechi) cannot be the leader of every ward and local government in Rivers; it is not possible. He is the leader at the state level, because of the support of other leaders, both elected and unelected; every member of the APC subscribes to his leadership.”

    Peterside, the governorship candidate of the APC during the 2015 election, disagreed with the people suggesting that the governorship ambition of Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in Amaechi’s government, was the reason for the crisis in the party.

    He said: “Abe cannot be the reason (for the crisis in Rivers APC). He is entitled to aspire to any office in the land, including the Presidency. No man can stop him from aspiring for any office he chooses to contest. What he cannot guarantee is the support of individuals, because it is their choice.

    “I am sure there will be others who will make their intentions known (to be Rivers governor in 2019 on APC platform). The party will set the guidelines for the primaries and if he (Abe) wins, everybody will rally round him. We ordinarily expect him to also support whoever emerges from the party.”

    On the issue of either being politically independent or dependent, the NIMASA chief hinged his position on both, while insisting that his interest is to serve Rivers people to the best of his ability.

    The face-off between the transportation minister, an indigene of Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, and Abe, who hails from Bera-Ogoni in Gokana Local Council, led to the cancellation of the May 5 and May 12 ward and local government congresses, and the postponement of the May 19 state congress to today in Rivers.

     

  • Amaechi remains leader of APC in Rivers, says Peterside

    DEPUTY leader of Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi remains the party’s leader in the Niger Delta state.

    Dakuku’s affirmation followed the protests by Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) and his allies.

    He maintained that there was no faction in Rivers APC, adding that party members are united under the headship of Amaechi, a former governor of the state.

    Peterside, in an online statement yesterday by his media team, dismissed the claim by some disgruntled elements that the transportation minister had hijacked Rivers APC for personal gains.

    He noted that party members had the right to aspire to any position, just as individuals within the party also had rights to choose whoever they would support.

    The director-general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said: “Amaechi is the leader of all. Everybody subscribes to his leadership. He has no such powers to hijack the APC. He is one member of the APC. If he has the support of the majority, you will say he has the support of the majority, including myself.

    “He (Amaechi) cannot be the leader of every ward and local government in Rivers; it is not possible. He is the leader at the state level, because of the support of other leaders, both elected and unelected; every member of the APC subscribes to his leadership.”

    Peterside, the governorship candidate of the APC during the 2015 election, disagreed with the people suggesting that the governorship ambition of Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in Amaechi’s government, was the reason for the crisis in the party.

    He said: “Abe cannot be the reason (for the crisis in Rivers APC). He is entitled to aspire to any office in the land, including the Presidency. No man can stop him from aspiring for any office he chooses to contest. What he cannot guarantee is the support of individuals, because it is their choice.

    “I am sure there will be others who will make their intentions known (to be Rivers governor in 2019 on APC platform). The party will set the guidelines for the primaries and if he (Abe) wins, everybody will rally round him. We ordinarily expect him to also support whoever emerges from the party.”

    On the issue of either being politically independent or dependent, the NIMASA chief hinged his position on both, while insisting that his interest is to serve Rivers people to the best of his ability.

    The face-off between the transportation minister, an indigene of Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, and Abe, who hails from Bera-Ogoni in Gokana Local Council, led to the cancellation of the May 5 and May 12 ward and local government congresses, and the postponement of the May 19 state congress to today in Rivers.

     

  • Wike, Peterside trade words on 2019 

    RIVERS State Governor  Nyesom Wike and the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, are trading words over Wike’s performance.

    Wike, yesterday in Port Harcourt, described himself as a peaceful politician, and  will continue as governor beyond 2019 because of his impressive performance

    Peterside, deputy leader of APC in Rivers, described Wike, ex-minister of state for Education, as a harbinger of violence, who will either return to his Rumueprikom village in Obio/Akpor council or go to jail in 2019.

    Wike, through Information and Communications Commissioner Emma Okah, said: “Peterside is a child, who should not be taken seriously.

    ‘’He always talks before thinking. Bitterness over the loss of 2015 governorship election should not prevent Peterside from speaking the truth. Peterside will still lose in 2019. Rivers remains a PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) state.

    “Governor Wike cannot lose the governorship in 2019, because he is performing well, receiving awards all over the world and his administration has projects in the 23 councils.

    ‘’Peterside and other APC leaders should show Nigerians their projects in Rivers State. Governor Wike won in 2015 and he will win again in 2019, because Rivers people want him to continue his good work. Nothing like hopelessness in Rivers State and the people are not in bondage.

    “That Peterside and other APC members are freely moving about in Rivers State, without being harassed or molested, is an indication Governor Wike is not a harbinger of violence.”

    Wike alleged that leaders of APC in Rivers were using operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) to intimidate and harass PDP members, which he said must stop and that violence during congresses of APC in Rivers should not be repeated.

    Peterside, who is director-general of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said: “Wike is holding Rivers people in bondage with his maladministration and bad governance. Rivers people are tired of the hopelessness of Wike’s administration. I have not seen development in Rivers State that is commensurate with the state’s funds.

    “I got report from persons that I trust their integrity, that prominent members of the PDP led the protest (last Friday at the Rivers High Court, Port Harcourt). They were captured on camera. Wike’s allies were physically seen at the court, directing the protest

    “Wike’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) called Promise, a police officer, was physically directing the PDP protesters at the court (on Friday). Wike is a painful reminder of how far we (Rivers people) still have to go.

    “I do not see how we (APC leaders) owe anybody any apology over the protest (at the Rivers State High Court Complex in Port Harcourt on Friday). The people have the right to protest. I am a man of integrity. On my honour, I am not aware that any property was vandalised or damaged at the court premises.”

     

  • Peterside: I’ll speak soon on governorship

    The Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said he will consult with his family and God before taking a decision on the governorship of Rivers State next year.

    Dr Peterside spoke in Port Harcourt at the weekend on a magazine radio programme, View Point.

    According to him, “I will consult with my family and God, only then can I come out to say anything. Whatever my intention is, I will make it known then.”

    Peterside was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

    He spoke on several issues about the state, including soot, the seeming crisis in Rivers APC, and his impression of what Governor Nyesom Wike has done despite the revenue accruing to the state in the last three years.

    The NIMASA boss blamed the government for the soot  presently ravaging the state, saying the inability of the administration to create jobs and provide business-friendly environment was responsible for the menace.

    Speaking on what he would have done as governor, he said he would end illegal refining through jobs and create the right environment for investment so people can be employed.

    Said he: “If you don’t put in the right thought process into an action, you won’t get the result. You have to create entrepreneurial opportunities, create the right environment for entrepreneurs to thrive, you have to create skills to enable them tap into opportunities that are available.”

    On the seeming crisis in Rivers APC, he attributed it to the “monkey hand in the soup” and refusal by some people to explore internal party structures to resolve disputes.

    “In a big party, there would be different tendencies. What is seen as an internal crisis in Imo state is a struggle for the party structure, and the national working committee of the party has intervened, the Vice President as a leader of the party has intervened. These are people who understand what it means to seek proper internal channels of the party to resolve issues; they didn’t approach any court.

    “In Ekiti, indeed, they had an election that ended in a stalemate, they have also sought internal party processes to resolve their issues, they didn’t approach any court. But because we have a monkey hand in the soup, as they would say and I put that in quote, our case in Rivers is different. The democratic path is to create institutions where you can seek redress within the party,” he stressed.

    Dr Peterside advised those who have disputes within the party to explore internal processes before heading to court.

    “There is an appeal panel, have they approached the panel? If they are not satisfied, they can approach the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC). So it is clearly the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau,” he said.

    On protests around the Judiciary last Friday in Port Harcourt, he said from what he was told, some protesters were led by PDP chieftains in the state, just as some people who may be members of the APC were also protesting.

    He denied being aware of the protest and that at no time did he mobilise anybody to protest, although he said the right to protest is part of democracy.

     

     

    ‘Rivers APC members should be focus to win in 2019’

    The Chairman of Ward and Local Government Congresses Committee from the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, Mr. Joseph Dogo, has said the party can only produce Rivers governor in 2019 with focused members.

    Dogo spoke yesterday with reporters at the Rivers State secretariat of APC in Port Harcourt, after receiving results of Saturday’s congresses  in the 23  councils.

    The three-member electoral committee in each council, while submitting results, reported that the congresses were peaceful, orderly, with impressive turn out.

    They added Option A-4 was used to elect the 27-member executive in each council.

    Dogo said: “From what I have seen, Rivers APC is on a sound ground. What members of APC in Rivers State need to do is to keep this momentum going. Once it is on course, and they continue to put their eyes on the ball and not on the spectators, then they are assured that 2019 is for us to pick, because whatever we take, we deserve. We do not take what we do not deserve. What I have seen is that they (APC members) are prepared to take over this state in 2019.

    “Last week, we did the ward congresses. Yesterday (Saturday), we had the LG congresses. Yesterday (Saturday), we went out to monitor the LG congresses in nine of the 23 LGAs. We saw a consensus. We saw unity of purpose. We saw people who are together, working for the advancement of this party (APC).”

    “Rivers people have made me proud. I do hope that by the time we release the pictorial of the events that took place in Rivers State, do not be surprised that people will be coming here to learn how you run this party. We are happy and we are grateful for the warm reception you have given us.

    “When I addressed the press last week Sunday, I thought I had seen the best, but yesterday (on Saturday), I was made to realise that what happened last week was just a preamble. The one of yesterday (Saturday) was so superlative. It was a wonderful experience when we went out yesterday (Saturday) to see how the LG congresses went on. I am satisfied with the results of the LG congresses in Rivers State.”

     

     

     

  • Rivers: Amaechi, Peterside floor Abe, Odike, supporters

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, yesterday floored the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe; the Deputy Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Peter Odike; and their supporters.

    Odike, Abe and their teeming supporters across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, on Friday, celebrated the motion on notice, in a suit filed by Felix Mboi, an ally of Abe, to stop yesterday’s ward congress of the APC in Rivers, with APC; the National Chairman of the ruling party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Rivers Chairman of the APC, Chief Davies Ikanya; and the state Secretary of the party, Chief Emeka Beke, as defendants.

    Amaechi, who is the leader of APC in Rivers and the Southsouth zone, and Peterside, the deputy leader of the party in the state, who was the 2015 governorship candidate of the APC, however declared in separate interviews in Port Harcourt that they were not aware of any court order or injunction retraining Rivers APC from conducting yesterday’s ward congress.

    Our reporter who monitored the ward congress in Port Harcourt and some parts of Rivers confirmed that the election (ward congress), using Option A-4, took place peacefully and orderly across the 319 wards in the state, with impressive turnout of members.

    Abe, yesterday evening in Port Harcourt, in an online statement by his Spokesperson, Parry Benson, however, claimed that there was no ward congress of the APC in the 23 LGAs of Rivers State yesterday.

    He also stated that there was no stakeholders’ meeting before the scheduled ward congress, as promised by the leadership of APC in Rivers.