Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, speaks with Dennis Naku about political violence in Rivers State, the G‑5 governors, and his party’s prospects in the upcoming elections.
When asked why he had been quiet on the political scene until the APC rally in his hometown of Opobo, Peterside replied that he is a methodological and strategic politician who does not believe in noise. He has been actively involved in the party at federal, state, and local levels, expressing his opinions through write‑ups, television appearances, and community engagements. “What matters is effectiveness and efficiency, not noise or optics,” he said. The Opobo rally, he explained, was inevitable because it is his home LGA. Unfortunately, state‑sponsored violence disrupted the peaceful gathering. Allegations that the APC masterminded the violence and blamed the PDP are, in his view, “infantile, deceitful, and pedestrian.” He described Opobo as the most peaceful community in Rivers State until it was “desecrated by this political desperado,” noting that the events of 31 January 2023 bear the trademark of Rivers State‑sponsored political violence led by the infamous garrison commander.
Peterside condemned the strategies of Governor Wike and the PDP, which he characterises as repression, intimidation, and violence. He asserted that Wike has never won a free and fair election and is “stiff‑necked and scared of competition.” Similar incidents, he said, have occurred in Etche, Ahoada West, Omuma, Degema, Tai, Okrika, and Port Harcourt, all following the same method of execution. He lamented that security agencies have abdicated their responsibilities and challenged anyone with evidence that the APC sponsored violence against itself to come forward. Regarding the state government’s claim that the APC lacked permission to use Opobo’s open space, Peterside noted that this tacit admission of complicity contradicts any assertion that the APC attacked itself.
On the subject of alleged squabbles with Rotimi Amaechi over his non‑reappointment as NIMASA DG, Peterside denied any truth to the rumor. He described his relationship with Amaechi as robust and said he harbours no ill will. “He is not the appointing authority, and I did not lobby anyone to be reappointed,” he explained, adding that he had already decided to run for political office at the time.
When asked about the G‑5 governors, Peterside said their influence is limited. “They are serving governors, so they must have some followers, but I don’t think it’s enough to determine the overall outcome of elections,” he observed. He noted that his own state governor misuses state resources for political purposes but seems unaware that “the times have changed.” Money still matters in politics, but it is limited, and local circumstances will prevent the governors from moving in a single direction. He cited his friend, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who is likely to remain with the PDP, and dismissed Governor Wike as “garrulous, boastful, and lacking in tact,” unsuitable for assessing the relevance of the G‑5 governors.
Regarding the G‑5’s call for PDP National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu to resign in favour of a southerner, Peterside argued that the timing and approach are flawed. He suggested that if the PDP ever succeeds, Ayu would eventually have to step aside, but the current agitation is a personal battle for selfish interests. He questioned whether Wike would push for Ayu’s resignation if he received the party’s vice‑presidential ticket, noting that “these governors cannot think we are all fools.” He reiterated that the G‑5’s influence is insufficient to determine election outcomes, given the changed political landscape since 2015.
On the claim that Wike supports the APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu, Peterside said he was unaware of any such support and described the alleged backing as “hogwash, make‑believe, or a creation of sponsored media.” He portrayed Wike as playing a survival game, boxed into a tight corner, and lacking popular support. If Asiwaju wins, Peterside doubted Wike would deserve credit, noting that Wike has not campaigned for the APC and that betraying one’s party yields no reward.
Evaluating Wike’s eight‑year tenure, Peterside called it “a spectacular failure,” crediting him only for building a few flyover bridges, spending heavily on media rather than infrastructure, and running a government without a budget for nearly eight years. He criticised Wike’s abandonment of the civil service, neglect of education, healthcare, and agriculture, and his reliance on media to create a false impression of performance. Peterside described Wike’s frequent outbursts as habitual, driven by a craving for negative attention, and harmful to the state’s reputation. He argued that while Wike may be a “democratic despot” or “pseudo‑democrat,” he hides anti‑democratic values and avoids serious engagement or fair competition.
Finally, when asked about the withdrawal of Sir Celestine Omehia’s entitlements and his de‑recognition as a former governor, Peterside declined to comment, noting that “the governor has chosen to play politics with everything, including the gifts he gave out earlier.”
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