A former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said that Rivers State people are politically sophisticated and conscious.
He said that contrary to popular belief, the people know beyond the antics of the current Governor Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State Government.
Peterside, who is a chieftain of All Progressives Congress in the state, stated this while speaking at a rally in Opobo, headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, according to a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.
The statement was titled, ‘Rivers people are politically sophisticated — Dakuku Peterside’. Speaking on the 2023 elections, Peterside averred that Rivers people are politically sophisticated and as such, no one could influence how they would vote during elections.
He said that contrary to recent claims Wike, Rivers people know their real leaders who have their interest at heart, and not those taking advantage of the economic situation to embarrass them.
“Rivers people know who their true leaders are; not those who presently take advantage of the harsh economic situation to hoodwink and turn them into articles of political and financial merchandise,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Speaking further, Peterside described the past seven years as one of the worst era in Rivers because of “leadership driven by selfish interest and unbridled ego”.
“There is no doubt that the last seven remain the worst in Rivers’ history. The ordinary Rivers man and woman were left out of governance while those in authority enriched themselves, appropriated the people’s commonwealth and shamelessly brandished even that which they stole, before the people. Rivers people never had it this bad,” the former NIMASA DG said.
Peterside, who is a former House of Representatives member, noted that the Opobo and Nkoro ethnic groups were one of the most politically enlightened stocks in Rivers. He argued that as such, they could not be deceived or blackmailed with any Greek gift.
“Opobo/Nkoro people are one of the most politically enlightened stocks in Rivers State and no one can deceive us with a Greek gift. Governor Wike had the opportunity of developing Opobo-Nkoro in the past 7 years but did not do it. He preferred to fret away our resources junketing abroad searching for personal relevance that will not add value to Rivers state and her people”, he said.
Peterside stated that at the appropriate time Opobo and Nkoro people would openly prove to Wike that they well took note of his neglect of the area.
“We will remind our people how much Wike and his cohorts failed them and why we cannot continue in that trajectory”, he stressed.
Continuing, the former Federal lawmaker said that Nigerians had been unanimous in the type of leaders they would elect in 2023.
“Nigerians are unanimous that the next election will be about character, competence and service delivery. It will not be about ethnicity. Opobo- Nkoro people know that a competent governor with a character they would be proud of would be superior to brandishing ethnic sentiment.”
