From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

BAYELSA State Govern­ment has announced April 9 for the burial of the Gov­ernor General of the Ijaw nation and former gover­nor Diepreye Alamieyesei­gha who died on October 10, 2015 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to the burial programme released by the state government, Alami­eyeseigha would be given a state burial spanning four days in Yenagoa and his hometown, Amassoma.
Already, the govern­ment has set up a commit­tee headed by the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah to ensure that the former governor is giv­en a befitting burial worthy of his status as a revered Ijaw leader.
The programme re­leased indicated that there would be a service of songs in Yenagoa and night of tributes in Yena­goa on April 7 to be fol­lowed by a wake keep at his country home in Amas­soma on April 9.
The interment has been slated for April 9 also in Amassoma, while a thanksgiving service would hold at Amassoma.
A close relative of Ala­mieyeseigha, Chief Abel Ebifemowei who con­firmed that the family is aware of the burial date, said the government is in charge of the programme.
Alamieyseigha was pronounced dead after he suffered from complica­tions arising from high blood pressure and dia­betes, which affected his kidney.
“He had chronic kid­ney disease which was aggravated by the sudden rise in his blood pressure and the long diabetics,” the state government had said when it broke the news of his death.