BY Nwaorgu Faustinus

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has joined friends and associates to felicitate with two eggheads of Rivers politics and archetypal progressives, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside and Barr. Asita O. Asita, as they mark the auspicious occasions of their birth, December 31st 2021.

 

Describing as an act of God, the coincidence of their birth on same day, December 31st, Chief Eze, a respected voice from the Niger Delta region, in a statement made available to media houses in Port Harcourt, said the birth of the two great sons of Rivers State on the same day is a divine arrangement orchestrated to create a ‘Power Twin Brothers’ whose 2015 aspiration to transform Rivers State and catapult her to the status of the number one state in Nigeria, propelled by an innate dexterity in leadership and human management was thwarted by the schemes of serial wrongdoers and evil forces who conspired to rip the state and her people of the benefits of good governance.

 

Having taken out time to extensively study the birth, growth and political craftsmanship of the two great minds, the party Chief said he has safely concluded that with the uniqueness in the moulds of Dr. Peterside and Barr. Asita and others, the prospects of Rivers State are very bright regardless of the scheme to continually and forcefully keep her in the dark.

 

According to Chief Eze, one very striking and unique semblance in the duo whom he called ‘political twins’ is that aside sharing similar birth experience coming from their great respected families, they have very sound mastery of the political terrain in Rivers State and have the willpower to do things differently and in the right way.

 

Chief Rt. Hon. Asita Honourable is the senior, born on 31st December 1966 to late Chief Okorie Asita (JP) of the Ugusha Royal Family of Okarki-Engenni, in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State while Dr. Dakuku Peterside was born on 31st December, 1970 to one of the most respected families from Opobo/Nkoro LGA. But to Dakuku and Asita, age is inconsequential in their relationship and dealings with each other as share very mutual respect and work in symbiosis with the desire to produce results and make meaningful impacts in society.

 

Describing Asita as an exceptional gentleman who was born with royal blood and named Honourable from birth, Eze said the Orashi born Lawyer cum politician is manifestly stocked with a comparatively sound frame of mind and perception and is abundantly endowed with a good sense of quality leadership coupled with an innate capacity to deliver on any given assignment with timely results.

 

Asita Honourable, like Dakuku Peterside, is a proud alumnus of the Rivers State University of Science & Technology (now Rivers State University) where he studied and obtained a Law degree from 1988 — 1992. He thereafter proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, (Lagos Campus), where he graduated in flying colours in 1993 whereupon he was called to the Nigerian Bar and qualified to practice as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 1994, Asita, participated in the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Adamawa State, where he served meritoriously.

 

Asita in Politics

 

Asita featured in the political scene first as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahoada West LGA Chapter, from 1999 — 2005 and was appointed Fulltime Member, Rivers State Post Primary Schools Board (Board Member 1) from 2002 — 2005; and a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Rivers State from 2003 — 2005.

 

As he grew further in ranks, he was appointed as Member, Rivers State Executive Council, where he served as Commissioner for Special Duties (Youth Affairs / Employment Generation & Empowerment).

 

In 2007, this man of the future won election as Member, House of Representatives, representing the good people of Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Federal Constituency and was appointed Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics & Values and House Committee Member on Environment, Capital Markets & Institutions and Special Duties. On account of his effectiveness as a Federal Legislator, Honourable was re-elected in 2011 and appointed pioneer Chairman, House Committee on Local Content, where he played no small role in the development and promotion of the Nigerian Local Content.

 

During the 2015 general elections, he emerged as the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State, with his ‘twin brother’, Dr Dakuku, as the Gubernatorial Candidate, but Senator Abe and his cohorts, working in consonance with some dark forces, connived and sabotaged the electoral chances of the All Progressives Congress and the ‘divine pair’ in the pursuit of their selfish private vendetta.

 

In the 2019 polls, duty called again and this time, Asita was elected the Rivers West Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 General Elections but again, Abe and his group, haven sworn to an oath with devil to annihilate the APC, ensured that the dream turned out a hoarse. However Asita was appointed Board Chairman, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), where he has continued to provide leadership and break new grounds till date.

 

NIMASA is an agency of the federal government of Nigeria and is responsible for the promotion of indigenous shipping and regulation of shipping as well as enforcement of the cabotage laws.

 

On the other hand, the party chieftain described Peterside as a celebrated icon, an enigma, a study in resoluteness, benevolence, audacity, resourcefulness, creativity, a symbol of unity, a visionary, egalitarian and, most importantly, a great patriot whose love for Nigeria and Nigerians is infectious. Eze also sees him as a bridge-builder, loyal to friendship; a force in the Maritime Industry in the entire world who became the first Nigerian to be elected by 34 countries as the President, Association of African Maritime Administrators (AAMA).

 

Eze said truly, Peterside remains a rare icon, an uncommon achiever, a world celebrated Author, a dedicated reformer and a henchman of the President. The fact speaks for itself, he says.

 

Dr. Dakuku Peterside Obtained a Doctorate degree in Management Science (Organizational Behaviour) from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Preceding the Doctorate degree, he attended high level management and leadership courses in the following centres of learning: Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University USA; Kellog School of Management, Chicago, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia-Atlanta; Galilee College Israel, USB Business School Stellenbosch, South Africa, amongst others. He was an outstanding student in turning around Government agencies and institutions in Galilee College, Israel.

 

This exceptional Rivers son is a member of Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Fellow Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (IMCN) and member Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN).

 

Dakuku in the Political Scene

 

Dakuku Peterside served as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State on works (2003-2005), Chairman, Opobo/Nkoro LGA (2002-2003), Special Assistant to Governor of Rivers State on Youths and Student Affairs (1999-2002). He also served concurrently on the Board of Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture (CBAAC) in Lagos.

 

On October 2007, he was appointed Commissioner of Works, Rivers State, where he served till January, 2011. As Rivers Works Commissioner, Dakuku managed the largest construction portfolio ever in the history of State government’s construction, supervising a total of 200 road projects (totaling 1,000 km), 5 flyover bridges, and 10 bridges in four years.

 

Prior to his appointment as DG/ CEO of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside had been elected into the lower chambers of the National Assembly (House of Representatives) and served between 2011 and May 2015 as chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) where he had the privilege to oversight strategic National Oil and Gas establishments such as Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC). He co-over sighted Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). He led other legislators to sponsor and champion the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as chairman of the Technical Committee of the House of Representatives. He presented a total of 36 scholar papers in five countries on the reform of Oil and Gas industry and government institutions in developing countries.

 

Peterside emerged gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 general elections with Asita as running mate, however, the hope of the APC to clinch victory was dashed by acts of sabotage perpetrated by internal black forces.

 

In March 2016, Dr. Dakuku Peterside was appointed Director General / CEO of Nigeria Maritime Administration and safety Agency (NIMASA) where he proved that he is a world beater and outstanding leader.

 

He is a leading Columnist with the Leadership Newspapers and Author of the world celebrated book, “Strategic turnaround: Story of a government agency’. A leadership and turnaround expert, Dr. Peterside is currently a consultant to several corporate and international bodies in the areas of leadership; regulatory work and compliance and maritime industry, especially in maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, oil and gas industry and also consults for a number of private think tanks across the globe.

 

For turning NIMASA into a global brand, Dakuku Peterside’s political twin brother, Barr Asita O Asita, was appointed Board Chairman, NIMASA, a position he has judiciously used to build on the legacies of Dr. Peterside in the federal government agency.

 

Given their efficiencies in service delivery, one cannot fault Rt. Hon. Dr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for recommending the duo to President Mohammadu Buhari, for appointments into positions of trust. Dakuku and Asita have continually provided answers to complex issues of public administration.

 

Quoting the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson who posited that the world makes way for the man who knows where he is going, Eze said although Dakuku and Asita may have suffered deprivation arising from acts of sabotage perpetrated by dark forces within the polity, providence has always directed them and the world has continued to make way for them as people of destiny.

 

As we approach 31st December with great honour and love, Eze called on people of goodwill all over the world to join to celebrate the birth of the political twin brothers from Rivers State and also pray for their continued rising and wellbeing.

 

While praying God to shower the duo with unquantifiable blessings, enlarge their coasts, lighten their path to the future, and cause them to fulfill their vision for Rivers State and our dear country Nigeria, Eze wishes them a fun filled, happy birthday celebration.

 

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