Port Harcourt—Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Director General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has said Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike lacks popular support to influence Rivers votes for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election.
This follows widespread rumours that Wike who is the leader of the aggrieved G-5 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is covertly working for Tinubu following his rancour with his party leading to the election.
Dakuku stated this while responding to questions in an interview with Dennis Naku which was published by the Punch newspaper.
He said Wike has nothing to contribute to Tinubu’s presidential bid other than Rivers state treasury.
Responding to whether Tinubu wins the election if Wike deserves some credit too, Dakuku said: “I am not in a position to answer that question. What would he have brought to the table, perhaps Rivers State government money? He obviously does not have popular support because he has none to offer.
“I have not seen him campaign for the APC. If APC and Asiwaju succeed, it will be incautious of Wike to claim any credit. There is no reward whatsoever for betraying your party.”
However, the Rivers APC chieftain said he is not in the know when asked if he is aware that Wike is supporting Bola Tinubu for the presidential race.
“I am not aware. I know there is so much disagreement and divergence in his team at Rivers. I bet you, Wike is playing a survival game and will not go out of his way for anybody.
“His perceived support base is all hogwash, make-believe, or just a creation of sponsored media. He thinks he is smart, but every day his inconsistency and dishonesty become evident. His present reality is that he has boxed himself into a tight corner. I feel for him. He obviously needs help,” he said.
The ex-NIMASA DG also denied any rift between him and the former Rivers state governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi following his failure to be reappointed as NIMASA DG.
According to Dakuku: “There is absolutely no truth in that assertion. We rather enjoy a robust relationship. I harbour no ill will towards Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi.
“To begin with, he is not the appointing authority, and so he did not deny me a second term if I wanted.
“Also, I did not lobby anybody, dead or alive, to be reappointed to NIMASA. The truth is that, at the time, I had made up my mind to run for political office, but that did not work out. I don’t harbour ill feelings towards people. It’s not even my nature. Let it be known that we have no issues at all. We remain the family that we have always been.”
