Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Hon. Dakuku Peterside has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will fail at the general elections because it has been rejected by the people. He said the resort to bombing and arson by suspected PDP thugs will not prevent voters from trooping out to vote wisely at the polls.
Peterside, a member of the House of Representatives, lamented that the activities of the thugs have aggravated insecurity in the state, promising that the APC government will halt the pandemonium.
The politician told reporters in Lagos that suspected PDP thugs are on rampage because of its imminent failure at the general elections.
He said: “APC is a party to beat in Rivers State. We have a good governor, a dynamic man, a team player. There are two parties in the race-APC and PDP. Wike and I were in the same university at a time. I was the Student Union Government President then. I have served as Special Adviser on Students Affairs, Special Adviser on Works, Commissioner for Works and I am now in the House of Representatives. We know ourselves.”
Peterside described electoral violence as the greatest challenge confronting Rivers, pointing out that 37 lives have been lost to mayhem across the state.
He added: “We lost 11 in a day in Abua. The tragedy also hit Ogu/Bolo and Okrika. Many people were injured. Party offices in Okrika and Andoni were burnt. Hands were cut off. People were stabbed. In Abua-Odua, people also died in political violence. For us, that is the greatest threat to the sanctity if the electoral process. It is not abating. It will be an issue in the election.”
The standard bearer said he would make security his priority, if elected as governor, adding that states must work with security agencies to combat insecurity. He promised to set up the Rivers State Security Trust Fund and involve communities in policing to protect life and property.
Peterside said: “Before Governor Rotimi Amaechi came, Port-Harcourt was like Bagdad. Guns were booming. He came and restore order. We have to partner with locals for intelligence gathering. The response time to emergencies must be short. There is need for neighbourhood watch for vigilance.”
The APC candidate said his vision is to lead a united, peaceful and prosperous state where transparency, human capital development, physical and infrastructural development and employment generation will be the priorities of government.
