Nigeria’s Rivers state Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi has said Dakuku Peterside wasn’t better qualified than other aspirants like Senator Magnus Abe but gives further reasons why he emerged the parties’ flag-bearer in the state..
Enjoy Excerpts of the statements made by the governor dying the All Progressives Congress guber primary.
“By the grace of God our flagbearer is Dakuku Adolphus Peterside because we sat and agreed on that. The choice of Peterside, who represents Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency in the National Assembly, was not mine, but that of the APC caucus in the Rivers South-East senatorial district of the state. That does not mean that my bosom friend, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, was not qualified. I respect his intellect. In short there are two Nigerians I respect their intellect. They are Senator Magnus Abe and Odein Ajumogobia.
“I told Magnus that he is eminently qualified to be governor in the same manner I told them that my Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru is eminently qualified. I trust him, my Deputy.
“For the sake of equity the party decided that its governorship ticket should go to Rivers South east senatorial district after that the West and East Senatorial zones have produced Dr Odili and me as Governors for the past sixteen years by 2015 respectively. The caucus decided we should present Hon Dakuku Peterside. It does not mean that he is more qualified than others. But somebody has to carry our flag.
“I am very hopeful that Dakuku would sustain the legacies of this administration if elected governor. By the grace of God, very soon I will be walking behind him as he becomes the governor of the state.
“This is the time for that change. We will fight with everything we have to deliver the state to APC. This is our opportunity to ensure we will not suffer any more. This is the time to vote for our party.
“In view of the remarkable steadfastness and unalloyed commitment to defend our common vision and democracy in Rivers State we have resolved to grant automatic ticket to the incumbent lawmakers in the State House of Assembly that are on the side of APC. We are rewarding those who stood by us in the House of Assembly. This is a way to pay them back. I urge other aspirants who were not given the opportunity to contest to remain calm till 2019 as the chance will be created for them to contest as it was modest to give return tickets to those who stood by us during our trial times.
“The Federal Government has ceded our oil wells in Suku and Etche to Bayelsa and Abia States respectively in order to ruin our economy and I have to go to court two weeks ago to stop the federal government from taking our N12 billion to Abia State. If I didn’t do that, they (federal government) would have taken our money to Abia State.”
