Uniport SUG Honours Dakuku Peterside “He is student-friendly” – President
The Student Union Government (SUG) of University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) has given a prestigious award of excellence in public life to the immediate past Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Dakuku Adol Peterside.
In a well-attended Student Union Government Award Evening marked with drama, music and fanfare that took place at the International Student Centre of the institution last Friday, the students speaking through their leadership extolled the sterling qualities of Hon. Dakuku Peterside, saying that it was a well-deserved award for the former Rivers State Commissioner for Works and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the House of Representatives, Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency.
According to the SUG President, Tonye Tom-George, “The significance of this award is to recognize those who love the union; those who support and encourage the union.”
On Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Tom-George stated: “Hon. Dakuku Peterside is a man who has really assisted students; any student that meets him, he will always support that student; he will make sure he gives help to such a student.”
Continuing, Tom-George said, “Another reason we are giving this award to Hon. Dakuku Peterside is because of the positive effect his work as Rivers State Commissioner for Works has impacted on our lives as students of Uniport; before we used to pay over N200 to Rumuola due to bad road but the situation has changed for the better because of his efforts as the Rivers State Commissioner for Works.”
Referring to the ambition of Peterside to become a member of the House of Representatives, Tom-George said that support for the candidate will be total from students.
“In fact, it is the Andoni, Opobo and Nkoro students that recommended him for this award in addition to the union's direct recognition. So, obviously he is there; his contesting is a mere formality, yes.”
Speaking further, Tom-George called on all and sundry to vote for Dakuku Peterside.
“We have tested him (Peterside); he is a nice person; he is an open-door-policy person. We are appealing to our parents, brothers, sisters, everybody to please vote for Dakuku Peterside because he's a good man,” Tom-George pleaded.
In his own reaction, a student of the institution, Comrade Prince Richard Ebelekor said that Dakuku Peterside loves and supports student unionism.
“Dakuku Peterside is a role model when it comes to student unionism; he encourages us to run transparent student unionism. He is a very student-friendly person and that is why we like him so much,” Ebelekor intoned.
Speaking further, Ebelekor said: “Dakuku has antecedents; I believe that our antecedents speak for us; he is going to do marvellously very well as a member of the House of Representatives for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency.”
On his part, a student leader from RSUST who was in attendance, Comrade Charles Jaja, said that Peterside runs an open-door policy and abhors violence of any kind.
“Let me state here that politics is shifting from thuggery and Dakuku has not supported thuggery in any way. This is one man who has always believed in power-play that is open and you don't sponsor youths to go destroy or fight. You can see what he did when he was the special assistant to Governor Odili on students affairs,” Jaja recalled.
Continuing he stated: “For Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, we want to send Dakuku there to represent us effectively; we want someone who will go there and represent us effectively and not someone who will go there and sit doing or saying nothing when issues are being debated. We believe Dakuku Peterside is the right man to represent our people at this time.”
Continuing, Jaja stated that the award would serve as a catalyst for Peterside at this time.
“I see this award as a catalyst that will further spur our brother to go and shine in the House of Representatives,” Jaja stated.
Earlier in his acceptance speech, Dakuku (who spoke through his Personal Assistant, Loveday Jaja, who received the award on his behalf) thanked the Student Union Government of University of Port Harcourt for the honour done him. He acknowledged that the award will re-invigorate the inherent spirit of service to the people in him.
“I thank you and assure you that I will continue to do my best in whatever I do especially when God decides to use me to better the lot of the common man; I didn't chose what I do, what I do chose me. Therefore, I have no choice but to live for the service of the people,” Peterside stated.
Dr. Dawari George, himself a candidate of the PDP for Asaritoru was also honoured alongside others.
Chris Finebone
Spokesman & Chairman,
Publicity Sub-Committee
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