Tribute To Dakuku Peterside

One common factor amongst greatmen is that, their births are generally humble but the manifestation of God’s purpose for them is always heralded by great storm, propelled by evil forces to destroy and terminate their destiny.

Before Joseph became a Prime Minister in Egypt, which God had destined him to be, he was almost killed by his brothers (Gen. 37:18-20).

In their bid to ensure that the divine purpose for him as revealed by his dreams was aborted,  Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery during which he was imprisoned unjustly.

Moses whom God used to deliver the Israelites from 430 years of Egyptian bondage, was born at a time when Pharaoh ordered the killing of any Hebrew son at birth (Gen. 1:15-16).  Despite the efforts to terminate his birth and divine purpose for him, Moses eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt.  The birth of  Jesus Christ witnessed a similar  scenario, with King Herod planning to kill him (Matt. 2): Yet, at the fullness of time, Jesus redeemed the world.

The case of Amaopu Dakuku A.S. Peterside was not different.  In fact, his birth came at a time  Nigeria was enmeshed in  a Civil War.  But because of his divine assignment for the  Ibani people, he was saved from all manner of attacks and survived during this period.

His early stage in life, was like every other child of that era, passing through the trauma of post-war era. Parents were leaving below poverty level. Only few of them had the financial capability of ensuring that  their siblings got the basic form of education.

As an eloquent and humble young undergraduate of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Dakuku rode through the ladder and became the National President of the Rivers State Students.  At the same time, he pioneered the greatest union of all time in his constituency,  the Vanguard of Opobo Nation and served as the National Secretary and later the national president.

Upon graduation and after his National Youth Service Corps, he was appointed the Special Adviser on Students Affairs by the State Government, the position he seized to prove himself as a quintessential leader.  His performance and style of leadership catapulted him to the position of  a caretaker chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government.  Till date, his indeliable achievement is yet to be surpassed by any chairman.

Because of the hunger and zeal for good and quality leadership in him, he was appointed the Commissioner for Works by the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike  Rotimi  Amaechi, and he left a worthy legacy.

All the road networks currently going on in the state and the expansion of the existing ones are to his credit.

As a compensation and in order for him to continue his good works, the people of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro decided to elect him as their representative at the Federal House of Representatives, believing that, the best of him is yet to be seen.

Presently in the federal House, Dakuku Peterside leads a committee that is so critical to the survival of the nation, (the Petroleum Down Stream).

As Dakuku goes on with  his new assignment at the federal level, it is expected that by the time he leaves, he would have surpassed the achievements of his founding father, King Jaja of Opobo.

Jaja wrote in from Port Harcourt.

Igbilasigba Jaja