Jonathan, bigwigs defy downpour at Alamieyeseigha’s burial  

From Femi Folaranmi,  Yenagoa

FORMER President Good­luck Jonathan, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) bigwigs defied heavy downpour yesterday to hon­our former governor of Bay­elsa State, Chief Diepreye Solomon Alamieyeseigha as he was buried in his home town, Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Speaking at the ceremony attended by political leaders and prominent indigenes of the Niger Delta, Jonathan de­clared that Alamieyeseigha’s death left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Ijaw and politi­cal associates.

Jonathan who recalled his political relationship with Alamieyeseigha said the lega­cies left by the former gover­nor would endure for a long time.

According to him, when they came in 1999, Bayelsa  was in a difficult situation and they had to work hard to en­throne peace.

“We met a Bayelsa that was under siege. Because of the siege, elections were post­poned with one month. Even the military administrator then wrote to the Federal Govern­ment about the difficulty.

“When we took over, there were two governments. Ala­mieyeseigha and I on one hand and the militant youths on the other. Alams gave us three things. He gave us vi­sion, peace, social integration and infrastructural develop­ment.

“He established the Niger Delta University and said without education, you cannot propel your people. Alams encouraged peace. He visited militant camps. Some people said the governor and the deputy should not go together. But we did. Alams encour­aged such visits until peace came to Bayelsa State,” Jona­than said.

Dickson and the former governor of Borno and Act­ing Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu-Sheriff, in their sepa­rate tributes raised concern over the rising tension among political leaders from the six geo-political regions over the perceived disunity and fear of political intimidation by the Federal Government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Modu-Sherrif described Alamieyeseigha as a dogged fighter and a man of peace, a detribalized Nigerian who be­lieved in the cause and eman­cipation of his people.

He expressed pain that the late former governor was per­secuted because he believed in a cause.

“We should allow people say their mind under a new Nigeria. Nigeria should allow the people to live their lives like a freeborn,” Modu-Sher­iff said.

Speaking in the same vein, Governor Dickson noted that Alamieyeseigha was hunted to death by the federal gov­ernment, and added: “I will call on the federal govern­ment to unite the people. They should consult and form a consensus on building bridge.”

Dickson described Alam­eiseigha as a bridge builder that dedicated his life to cre­ating a unifying relationship with people of different cul­tures and ideals, for which he was bestowed with a tra­ditional title by the Emir of Katsina, adding, “He stood his ground for what is right. That is the significance of the Ijaw nation. Ijaw nation be­lieves in true Nigeria and true federalism.”

Dignitaries at the event include the Acting BoT chair­man of PDP, Alhaji Jibril Aminu, former governor of Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okoro­cha, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and former governor of Taraba State, Rev Jolly Nyame, among others.