Dr. Dakuku Peterside has condemned in strong terms, the barbaric and
gruesome assassination of Barrister Ken Atsuwete in Port Harcourt, the
Rivers State capital.
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) who was reacting to the sad incidence noted that the
killing of the prominent Activist, Political Commentator and Lawyer is
perhaps the deadliest of several politically motivated killings in Rivers
State.
According to Dr. Peterside, “I condemn in the strongest terms the
barbaric, nasty and heinous assassination of Barrister Ken Atsuwete in
Port Harcourt, Rivers State today. This is perhaps the deadliest of
several politically motivated killings perpetrated in Rivers State in
recent times.”
Paying tribute to the departed, Dr. Peterside noted that “Ken Atsuwete was
a prominent Activist, political commentator, fiery critic of bad
governance, Citizen activist and most recently Lawyer to Hon Ojukaye Flag
Amachree, the APC leader held for trumped up charges.
“Without any doubt, the killers of Ken Atsuwete have the objective of
instilling fear in the rank of the opposition, stifle them and silence
every voice of reason in Rivers State. The killing of Ken Atsuwete is
perhaps the height of impunity which is now an everyday way of life in my
home State of Rivers.
“I call on the Inspector General of Police, Director General of State
Security Service and other national security agencies to conduct an
extensive investigation into this heinous crime with a view to bringing
the perpetrators to book and restoring sanity to our dear state.”
The NIMASA DG further noted that the current government in Rivers State,
in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, owes the
people the responsibility to protect lives and property irrespective of
the political persuasion of citizens and called for an immediate halt to
this wanton destruction of lives and property in the state.
Dr. Peterside who expressed deep sadness over a promising life suddenly
felled also condoled with the family of the late Activist saying “I mourn
with the immediate family of Ken Atsuwete, his associates and APC
political family on this needless loss of the voice of Reason.”