By Osamudiamen Uduozeme
The Federal Government, on March 10, 2016, appointed Dr Dakuku Peterside, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the April 11, 2015, governorship election in Rivers State, the 5th Director General/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). This appointment, according to discerning minds, is a worthy appointment amidst the myriads of appointments made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Many Nigerians were excited because for once, government has spotted a reformer for an agency that urgently needs reforms. The Amaopusenibo of Opobo kingdom, a cool-headed, easy-going, charismatic and disciplined leader; an administrator and a gentleman, brings to his new job, an array of experience; political sagacity, integrity, solid academic and administrative background. Having gone through the rigours of education and bagged a Bachelor’s degree , two masters degree including an MBA in Business Administration, a doctorate degree in Management Science and certificates in Leadership and Project Management from top institutions around the world , Peterside, no doubt, prepared himself immensely for this onerous task and would lift NIMASA from where the years of the locusts left it.
Peterside is bringing to bear on his new position, his integrity, exposure and purposeful leadership, He will make NIMASA a disciplined and friendly environment for both local and international players in the maritime sector. Not only would Peterside steer the ship of NIMASA away from the corruption which has plagued the foremost maritime agency, he would as well, steer it away from controversy, ineffectiveness, embezzlement of funds, unwarranted political intrusion, ethnic rivalry, amongst other mind-boggling issues. Those who do business with NIMASA are already saying positive change is obvious even this early .
Having been in the House of Representatives for four years where he served as the Chairman of the all important Petroleum Resources (Downstream) Committee and other important committees such as Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values; Drugs, Narcotics and Financial crimes; Co-operation and Integration in Africa; Electoral Matters; Industry; Communications and Works; Peterside is the right man for the highly challenging office at NIMASA.
It is also instructive to note that the appointment of Dakuku was hailed by players in the maritime sector. Unlike other appointments that would easily elicit myriads of reactions, from my observation, I have not read anywhere either in the dailies, weekly or monthly publications, nor in the online and social media, where his main opponent in the Rivers gubernatorial tussle, Nyesom Wike, objected to this noble appointment. This goes to show the calibre of person Nigerians have in Dakuku Peterside.
It is also worthy of note that an ex-militant and a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Chief Ateke Tom, could not hide his emotions when he commended President Muhammadu Buhari for this noble appointment. Ateke who has been involved in the Niger Delta struggle, knows the importance of having a Dakuku Peterside at the helm of affairs in NIMASA.
A man of integrity, Dakuku would not vilify anyone, nor engage in anti-human conducts in the discharge of his duties. He does not discriminate. He takes everybody as his own. He is also a man of peace. A good example is the outcome of the Rivers governorship election which did not go in his favour even though he won at both the tribunal and the Appeal Court. Upon the Supreme Court ruling in favour of Governor Nyesom Wike, all Dakuku did was to appeal to his supporters to remain peaceful. He never said because the judgement was overturned, the heavens would fall. No! That is vintage Dakuku. He believes solely in the wishes of the people.
So, as Dakuku steps ahead to reinvigorate NIMASA, he needs the cooperation of all – the citizenry, the industry players, the international community and most importantly, the government in order to achieve his lofty dreams for NIMASA.
Taking a holistic look at his background, it is clear that Dakuku is not in NIMASA to steal. He is in NIMASA to erect structures, legacies, great achievements, which according to Ralph Waldo Emerson, would build a monument which shall endure until the sun grows cold. He is in NIMASA to infuse life into it, to set standards which would be a vade mecum for successive heads of NIMASA to follow, standards which would live beyond this administration, in line with the Change Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the end of his tenure , Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic and political inclinations, would have reasons to believe that a good man, an administrator, a leader presided over the affairs at NIMASA. Nigerians, therefore, have every reason to believe that Dakuku is not in NIMASA to enrich himself but to leave footprints in the sands of time.
• Uduozeme writes from the Diaspora.