The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, says the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration in Rivers State will be history come 2019 general elections as the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over the administration of the state.
Peterside, who stated this in a live television programme monitored on TVC on Wednesday, hinged his assurance on the disconnect between Governor Wike and Rivers people, in addition to lack of focus and inability to key into the hopes and aspirations of the people.
According to him, “in 2019 Wike will be history, Rivers people cannot wait to make the governor history, Rivers people who desire development, peace, progress and general well-being of the state have come together to vote out Wike and I will be part of it.”
He explained further that the APC has alternative programmes and policies that would make the economic and socio-political indices of the state to thrive rather than the below par performance of the present government.
The NIMASA boss accused Wike of not creating jobs and providing the fertile environment for businesses to thrive but prefers to politicize development to achieve his selfish interest.
“Wike politicises development, his politics are driven by self-interest, he does not put Rivers interest first,” he stressed.
On whether he would contest the governorship election of Rivers State in 2019, he emphasized that he presently has an assignment at NIMASA to put the Agency on sound footing and declared that he would make his decision known before the end of August.
“I am more focused on positioning NIMASA in the world map as a leading Maritime Agency. My position will be made known in the early weeks of August, whether I will present myself to run or not. I am more than sure that on the 29th of May 2019 the current Government in Rivers State will vacate office and I will be part of the team to send them packing. “
On what he would do differently should he become Rivers governor, the former Reps member stated that he would prioritise safety and security, ensure sound and progressive economic policies and, provision of basic amenities to improve the standard of living.
On the issue of perceived crisis in the Rivers chapter of APC and existence of a faction, Dr Peterside rubbished such insinuations, saying “both Senator Magnus Abe, myself and other leaders agree that Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is the leader of the Party and this is not in dispute, Hon Ojukaye Flag-Amachree is the Chairman of the Party in their State and that is also not in dispute.”
He explained that rather than saying Senator Abe was leading a faction, he is actually leading his gubernatorial campaign team, which is not strange in a party like the APC that has different tendencies.
The Rivers governorship candidate of the APC in the 2015 general elections also reacted to comments that Rivers was not Ekiti, pointing out that the governorship election was free and fair, with Ekiti proving that people like “Fayose and Wike, (when sent packing by 2019, have no place in our Government Houses.”
