Isaac Anumihe
Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, yesterday cleared the air on his rumoured resignation from the directorship of the agency, saying that he was still holding the ace in NIMASA.
The former lawmaker further declared that he has not resigned as director-general of NIMASA, adding that he will inform the public of his decision in due time. “Let me emphatically state that at no point did I resign and as such, there was no rejection of my resignation from any quarters. I have repeatedly stated that whenever I am ready to make my decision known, I will tell Rivers people and it would not be hidden.
“I am aware that some jittery politicians, who have jeopardised their political relevance, may have resorted to blackmail and outright lies to give their waning members hope. This is not unusual, as they will become more desperate in the days ahead.”
The NIMASA boss was the 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State and many believe he has also been anointed to re-contest the state’s governorship election in the state in the 2019 polls, hence the speculation over his purported resignation. Peterside was appointed the Director General of NIMASA in 2016 upon his failure to clinch the governorship of Rivers State in the 2015 polls.
As the anointed son of the former governor of Rivers State Mr Chibuike Amaechi, who is an APC chieftain, he was consoled with the plum job with a strong promise that he must assume the position in 2019 election.
However, stakeholders have rated him low in terms of performance. This is because he has to shuttle between Rivers State and Lagos on weekly basis so as not lose touch with home front.