The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has described the sudden demise of the immediate past representative of Opobo/Nkoro Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Andrew Miller, as “devastating and too real to be true.”

Dr Peterside, who learnt of the sad loss while in a meeting in Lagos, struggled to contain tears as he remained in shock and unsure whether the former Assembly member was indeed gone.

Hon Miller represented Opobo/Nkoro State Assembly Constituency from 2011 to 2015. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 2015 but lost in court under questionable circumstances.

He noted that the death of Hon Miller is a “big blow to the people of Opobo/Nkoro, Rivers state and humanity.”

“He is a thoroughbred politician, who rose from being a councillor to a supervisor, vice chairman before being elected to the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent the good people of Opobo/Nkoro.

“He is a deft politician, bridge builder, good family man, loyal, resourceful, development-minded and persevered in all situations. We have indeed lost a great man who worked hard to bring development to his people,” he stressed.

Peterside, who is also from Opobo/Nkoro local government area condoled with the family of the deceased, friends and political associates, stating that his loss will be felt for a long time to come.

According to him, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state and Nigeria, in general, has lost a decent gentleman, a true progressive and an ambassador of his people. He represented everything that is good and was loved by all.”

The NIMASA boss assured that all progressive-minded people would rally round the family at this grieving moment and beyond while praying that God will grant the deceased’s family the strength and grace to bear the unfortunate loss.

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