Peterside Clarifies Stance: ‘I’m Amaechi’s Ally, Not Aligned with Wike’

Dakuku Peterside has publicly declared his loyalty to Rotimi Amaechi, distancing himself from Nyesom Wike. Explore the political dynamics and implications of his statement.

On Wednesday, Dakuku Peterside, a politician from Rivers State in the oil-rich South-South region, announced his political affiliation. He stated that he does not align with the group led by former governor Nyesom Wike, who is currently serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Rather, Peterside, who previously served as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stated that he sides with Rotimi Amaechi, Wike’s predecessor and former political mentor.

The former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship hopeful expressed, “I am a friend to Rotimi Amaechi,” during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Wednesday.

“I’m not aligned with Nyesom Wike,” Peterside stated, further clarifying that he is also not politically affiliated with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

However, he expressed his readiness to offer advice to the current governor on advancing the state.

He stated, “During Nyesom Wike’s tenure as governor, I consistently wrote open letters to him offering my advice. I did this for quite some time. If Governor Fubara seeks my counsel, I’m certainly willing to provide it, just as I’ve done with many other governors.”

A photo collage featuring former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, alongside FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Rivers is a highly politically charged state in Nigeria, largely due to its significant voting influence and the substantial wealth from being an oil-rich region.

Fragmented political camps resemble a coat of many colors in this diverse and intriguing state, dominated by the pugilists within the APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which the current governor belongs.

The camps are led by Wike, a prominent figure in the PDP and former two-term governor of the state from May 2015 to May 2023. Another influential political figure is Amaechi, who was an APC presidential hopeful and previously served as transport minister, governing the state from May 2007 to May 2015.

There are dedicated supporters of Fubara and former governor Peter Odili, while Uche Secondus, the ex-national chairman of the PDP; Magnus Abe; Tonye Cole; and others also have fervent followers. For over a decade, political turmoil has been deeply intertwined with the state as adherents from different factions consistently clash.