As the 2019 general election draws nearer, political office holders who have interest in contesting elective positions have been advised to consider resigning their appointments for the interest of the country.

Mr Ovie Edomi, President, League of Maritime Editors and Publishers

The League of Maritime Editors and Publishers who gave the advice said this was for the best interest of the organizations and the maritime industry where the office holders are spearheading affairs.

In a statement signed by the President of the League, Mr Ovie Edomi, the association 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.

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 office 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 DG 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.

This, according to League, has in turn affected a lot of official issues requiring his attention in NIMASA which is on daily basis confronted with a lot industry challenges requiring attention.

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.

Signed

Francis Ugokwe

Publicity secretary