By Achor Omodu
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| Dr Dakuku Peterside |
Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside(DAP) was the Rivers State APC's Governorship candidate in the 2015 election. He was very prepared for the huge task of moving Rivers State forward. He was mentally, intellectually and physically prepared to build on the already existing gains made possible by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi's proactive, excellent and pragmatic leadership. That leadership was people-focused.
That leadership had the trappings of Marxism and Utilitarianism as the guiding philosophy, hence, the balancing act in education, health and other sectors. Schools and hospitals were built to cater for the education and health needs of all. Greatest happiness for the greatest number.
During the electioneering campaigns, Dakuku Peterside never failed to articulate his vision for the advancement of the oil-rich State. He carefully crafted his vision and mission in a document called "Roadmap To Prosperity".
A peep into this policy and strategy document for Rivers State by Dakuku Adol Peterside (DAP) would reveal a well crafted development trajectory that would have placed Rivers State amongst States making significant progress in Nigeria. A well thought out development strategy that would have not only consolidated on existing gains but would have made Rivers State the cynosure of all eyes.
His popularity and acceptance remain unparalleled. During the campaigns, Rivers people had the opportunity of listening to the candidates. While the sitting Governor(Gov. Wike) failed in convincing Rivers people of his intentions for our dear State, Dakuku Peterside, PhD; a holder of a doctorate degree in Organizational Behaviour and a well-trained management expert was traversing the entire landscape and political space of Rivers State canvassing for votes. He was mostly wanted but a fraudulent and ruthless electoral process scuttled our chances of consolidation and forward movement.
That we knew ahead of time that should we have, by any foul means, a governor outside of Peterside, we would experience backwardness was not in doubt. What is shocking and very disturbing is the level of deterioration that we see in today's Rivers State. Today, we no longer feel proud as Rivers people. How do one explain a situation where a State's budget has never been sighted either in hard copy or soft copy? How do one explain the incessant quest for, and obtaining of loans of over a hundred billion naira by Gov. Wike and the purposes for which we were told the loans would have served are far from being achieved? How would one explain a situation where funds released to the State running into hundreds of billions of naira cannot be efficiently deployed to advance development in Rivers State? It's painful. It's a pain we all are bearing in last 32 months of wastefulness and ineffectual disposition of the current administration in Rivers State.
About 22 months ago, Dr. Dakuku Peterside was appointed Director-General/CEO of Nigeria Maritime Administration And Safety Agency(NIMASA). Upon assumption of duty, he met a primitive, moribund and corrupt agency. Did he maintain the status quo? No, he didn't. He cleansed and changed the agency that hitherto was a cesspool of corruption. Today, NIMASA is ranked among world's best in maritime administration. Due to his superlative performance at NIMASA within one year of his appointment, he was elected Chairman of Association of African Maritime Administrators(AAMA). He has done significantly well for Nigeria. The President and The Presidency acknowledge his innovation in NIMASA which has not only put in place an automated and functional system but has also significantly raised revenue for the Federal Government. A feat no previous occupier of that position has ever achieved. This has earned him a voice not only in Nigeria but on the entire Continent of Africa, on the part and world at large.
Rivers State lost Peterside's excellent leadership and good governance initiatives but Nigeria and indeed Africa is gaining from Rivers State loss. Ride on, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, DG, NIMASA and Chairman, AAMA.
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| Mr Achor Omodu |
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