As 2019 general elections draw nearer, and several administrators in the nation’s maritime institutions eye political offices, the League of Maritime Editors in Nigeria has admonished all those who have interest in contesting elective positions to consider resigning their appointments for the interest of the country.
The League of Maritime Editors and Publishers who gave the advice, in a press release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Francis Ugokwe, said this was for the best interest of the organizations and the maritime industry where the office holders are spearheading affairs.
In a statement, the President of the League, Mr Ovie Edomi, said the call was necessitated by the fact that preparation for every elective office was usually a huge task that needs a lot of concentration which also affects performance negatively on office holders in their respective organizations.
The statement said rather than allowing personal ambition to rub-off on positions of trust and a big toll on the industry, the political office holders should be honourable enough to consider quitting offices for the best interest of the organization, the maritime industry and the nation at large..
The League in particular identified the present Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside who is well known to be interested in the governorship race of Rivers State.
According to the group, Peterside should do the needful of resigning his appointment to be able to have full time for his political ambition, a position which he has the capacity to win if he puts his all into the race..
Already the Director General is believed to be rarely in his office at Apapa, Lagos, as a result of his regular engagements in preparation for the 2019 governorship race.
According to League, this has affected a lot of official issues requiring his attention at NIMASA which is on daily basis confronted with myriad industry challenges requiring the urgent attention of the NIMASA boss.
For instance, industry matters such as pirate attacks on vessels off Nigeria and Gulf of Guinea, among others need to be addressed with new strategies which can only be possible with a chief executive officer that is not distracted by the task of election.
Although, Dakuku may not be the only one that may be preparing for election, his case is known by all and sundry, and it is time for him to bow out, the statement said.
The responsibilities of NIMASA as an apex institution as far as the maritime industry is concerned, the League said, were enormous, thus requiring a full time chief executive officer who has time to work on new ideas to address development challenges.
