Dakuku Visits Opobo Council of Chiefs …Says “Now is the time to thank Gov Amaechi through votes”

By Chris Finebone

The immediate past Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Warisenibo (Hon.) Dakuku Adol Peterside, has formally presented himself as his party's (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency.


In an event that took place at the hallowed chambers of King Jaja's Palace, Opobo Town, Peterside used the occasion to drum support for the re-election of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the 2011 general elections.


In what appeared to be a father-and son meeting with the Amanyanabo, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V and Chiefs of the Kingdom, Peterside called on them, as repositories of wisdom and knowledge, not to let the indigenes of Opobo vote irresponsibly in the coming April polls.


“We are enjoying the benevolence and support of Governor Amaechi; It will not always be so; at the end of his tenure, another person will take over,” Peterside warned.


Continuing he said: “This is the time to return the goodwill and benevolence the governor has shown and is still showing to Opobo Kingdom since coming into office in 2007 by ensuring that all the votes of Opobo people are for the Governor.


Dakuku Peterside also used the occasion to give a progress report and answer questions concerning the ongoing Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road.


“Your Majesty, you know that before we came on board the alignment of the Unity Road was different and by the grace of God, we changed the alignment on assumption of office,” Peterside stated.


Continuing he said: “I changed the span age of the bridges on Andoni and Opobo-Nkoro portions of the road at the point we met it.”


“I am aware that they have paid Trevi to start the piling work on the road leading to Kalaibiama and it is about 500 metres. Now Trevi will need to fill sand substantially to be able to move in their equipment for the piling.,” Peterside revealed.


Speaking further, he ascribed the delay in completing the road to paucity of funds.


“The Unity Road requires about 12 billion Naira to complete; the truth is that government cannot cough out that kind of money at one go because of other pressing responsibilities it has to carry out; money is a challenge because government is doing schools, free education, health, energy and so on,” Peterside said.


He expressed the belief that the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration would do its best to complete the road to alleviate the suffering of the people of the area.


On the emergence of an Nkoro indigene as the PDP Rivers State House of Assembly candidate, Peterside applauded the development, stating that it was a veritable means of securing the future of the kingdom.


“I believe that the House of Assembly going to Nkoro is the best thing that we can do now if we are to guarantee our future as a people.” Peterside stated.


“To secure this kingdom, this is the time to multi-task; this is the time to make all parts of our brain to function at the same time. We must be politically savvy,” he said.


Dakuku Peterside expressed his sadness over the low voter registration in the kingdom during the last registration exercise by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).


In his response, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, the Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, wished Dakuku Peterside well in his quest to represent Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives come April, 2011.


The Royal Father, on behalf of the Opobo Alapu Council, expressed his appreciation to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the exceeding commitment he has shown so far towards the completion of the Unity Road. King Dandeson Jaja also expressed the hope that if the Unity Road gets to Opobo it will assist indigenes come home to register en mass in the next registration by INEC.


“I believe that come the next voters registration, if this road (Unity Road) is through to Opobo, we will not struggle the way we did this time. And I can bet you, that at that time, there will be competition and we shall have a real boost in our electoral growth,” the Royal Father prophesied.


Chris Finebone
Spokesman & Chairman,
Publicity Sub-Committee
08033362062