Open Letter to Dakuku Peterside: Rivers Gubernatorial Elections “Is a Wake Up”

Following the heavy rigging that took place in the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in Rivers state, many have hardly heard from the candidate of All Progressives Congress, Dakuku Ado, Peterside. There is been a silence on his social media and no presence at all in the media. As a Multipreneaur  and media specialist I write this open letter to Dakuku urging him to continue to speak up for our fellow people in Rivers

As Febuary 28th approached, the tension heightened and several pemultations abound. Billboards, posters and all the paraphernalia of affluent politicking symbolised the PDP while word had it in the streets that the APC had no funds nor activity as Governor Amaechi hadn’t even announced his chosen one. Eventually he did and the mantle fell on Dakuku Adol Peterside.

Mixed feelings trailed his appointment and indeed reactions from the Ogonis who believed it ought to have been one of their own, especially Magnus Abe. His finesse, composure and meekness endeared him to the Rivers people and sooner than ever, mixed feelings vanished, Dakuku became the word on everyone’s lips, the party remained stronger and it was time to move onto the business of the day.
Teeming crowd of supporters, most of them hired, characterized the campaigns of both major political parties. I won’t fail to use this medium to appeal to our youths once more not to allow themselves to be used and abused by politicians.

Our poor mothers and sisters trekked in the sun, hopped on rickety buses and were handed peanuts in the end, just to chant, dance and belittle themselves all day in the name of support for a political party.

So this went on until the elections got postponed.

I want to believe that even though the postponement took its toll on a lot of politicians, as their monies for campaigns had dwindled, this seeming disappointment must have worked in Dakuku’s favour.

Suddenly, billboards sprung up everywhere, posters and stickers but, the most interesting was the ”street light” mode of advertising where virtually every street light in all of Port-Harcourt boasted of holdng a wooden mini Dakuku board and my love for Dakuku tripled irrespective of the environmental nuisance this act posed.

At once i knew, that this fight was far from over. It was a contest to watch out for. The world had its eyes on Rivers state and then, came the debate.  All three participants (Tonye Princewill, Nyesom Wike and Dakuku Peterside) did very well BUT that was where my problem began.

Barely could he make any sentence without referring to ‘Amaechi’ and his government.  His campaign speeches  were more about Amaechi than even himself or his plans.

I was privileged to watch the Lagos guber debate, and if you did, you would agree with me that the two major participants of that debate never mentioned Tinubu or Fashola. They spoke like they were already governors. You could see their passion, the drive was obvious, the charisma was oozing and yes, it influenced the people’s choices.

The Nigerian political circle is characterized by god-fatherism. But be that as it may, throughout this struggle with the federal government, i never for once heard governor Rotimi Amaechi mention his god-father – Peter Odili. You cannot separate Amaechi from Odili neither can you Dakuku from Amaechi. All i am saying to Dakuku is, give us a break with the Amaechi speeches.
With due respect sir, please speak for yourself. A lot of admirers lost interest in your cause because everytime they tuned in to listen to you, it was more of Amaechi they heard.

Governor Amaechi is not a bad man but, in leadership you are bound to step on toes and it goes without saying that there are a lot of aggrieved persons, who ordinarily would have voted the APC but for Amaechi’s supposed woes especially, the Judiciary – as many innocent citizens are rotting away awaiting trial (some of them to whom bail had been granted but for administrative procedures, are still languishing in jail).

A lawyer once said that if man could lead others to hell, governor Amaechi would have led lawyers in the Rivers State judiciary to hell. I asked why and she said ”how do you justify being paid every month for a service you are not rendering as a lawyer, as a custodian of truth and justice? I am supposed to be defending the innocent, and here am i being paid every month (even though i haven’t been paid for two months now) whilst the innocent are rotting away in jail”.

Whilst Amaechi has his own story and defense, let me focus on the main issue: I expect to see more of post-election Dakuku.  Your new media team seems docile. Nothing on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook (a little), Youtube and even your mobile app has not more than 10 downloads. The only person we hear from is Ibim Seminitari who indeed, has done her best.

We hear nothing more about you. We hear nothing more from you. Amaechi has gone ‘federal’ and by God’s grace, will be given a key position in the President-elect’s administration. Your lieutenants and supporters are all looking up to you.

We’ve not even seen you and the APC of Rivers state pay the President-elect a courtesy victory visit or is it that Governor Amaechi hasnt sanctioned you to do so yet?

Without bias, I dare say, this is not an easy road and you must take up courage to do the needful. My happiness is that Opobo Town did not let down their own and the best i can do is to advice from afar as a concerned Riverine.

After the elections, it seemed as if it was an Ijaw cause over a Riverine candidature but, i believe it was just a smokescreen that doused the doubts of many supporters as to how PDP became victorious because, your victory, glaringly, was written on the walls for even the blind to see. In all, we must agree that your chief opponent is a man dogged in style and nature.

It is my hope that you have done an honest post-electoral evaluation and critical analysis. You must also dump old ways and embrace the change that you preach, the change that you are.

APC won the elections largely due to the influence of the social media amongst other things.

Perception management was at its height but it was rather disappointing that your team was not up and doing in the social media. This is a tool you must not ignore especially in this century.

Nyesom Wike to some, prepared for the elections and you were said to have prepared for the campaigns only. Even your campaign funding was released late, a strategy i believe was influenced by the deputy governor Tele Ikuru.

You’ve got youthfulness, charm and charisma. Raise your head, fight the good fight and bring hope to the good people of Rivers State.

I want to see the Dakuku that I know.

By Alaseigha Julius (@Alasia567)

Alaseigha Julius wrote from Abuja (greenspiderltd@gmail.com). He is a well known Multipreneur and media specialist from Rivers state who worked in campaigning for major APC candidates in the 2015 elections.