Senate extols late Alamieyeseigha’s ‘virtues’

The Nigerian senate on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa state, who died on October 10.

Foster Ogola, a senator representing Bayelsa West at the national assembly, sponsored a motion asking for the late governor to be honoured with a one-minute silence. The motion was co-sponsored by 17 other senators.

Ogola praised Alamieyeseigha’s “service to Nigeria” even before joining politics, noting that he joined the Nigerian defence academy as a cadet officer in 1974, then joined the Nigerian air force.

He described Alamieyeseigha as an often-misunderstood man who so loved his people that he was fondly referred to as the ‘governor-general of the Ijaw Nation’.

After the motion was seconded, the senators took turns to speak about him in glowing terms. Those who spoke include Senators Emmanuel Paulker, James Manager, Barnabas Gemade, George Sekibo and George Akume.

“I rise to give my short tribute to the life of a great man, former governor of Bayelsa state, DSP Alameseigha. This is a fine man, whose life in contribution to this nation has been greatly misunderstood. He is a man whom I got to know at the state committee level of my former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, the majority, now the minority,” Gemade said.

“In 1999, I had responsibilities of superintending the selection of the governor for Bayelsa state under that party, and that job saw DSP Alameseigha, a just retired squadron leader in the Nigerian Air force, become the candidate. And he picked his running mate, a school teacher from Rivers state and there was a hue and cry in the political class of Bayelsa state, who all said who are these people, we don’t know these people, how can they lead a young state like Bayelsa.

The magnanimity of DSP and his ability to interact and liaise with elders in the state made the matter laid to rest. Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state, was a one-street state and the only building you could see there, that were buildings of repute, were federal government buildings.

“But just a few years down the line, Alamieyeseigha as governor, turned into a city of many roads and many developments. If we talk about a man putting the map of the Ijaw nation on the map of Nigeria, this is a man that put the minority ethnic nationality of the Ijaw people on the solid map of Nigeria and internationally.”

George Sekibo (Rivers east) said: “I rise on behalf of all Ijaw people in Rivers state to mourn our leader, who has passed to the glory of the almighty. When death bell rings, it takes who it wants to take. When death bell rings, it does not ask a group, who do you want to give? I believe if that question was asked Ijaw people, I believe many of us would have suggested those of us who are 90, 100 and between that range of ages.

“Alamieyeseigha wouldn’t have been given as a sacrifice for this purpose, but death comes and takes who it wants to take. Today, we remember him for all he has done for us, for putting the south-south people together; we remember him through his teaching and mentorship. through which the Ijaw nation was able to bring forth a president for this great country.

“Today, if there’s nothing he was unable to do at all; he was able to give a perfect human being to lead this nation, and who has done very well, successfully. Adieu Alamieyeseigha, until we meet again.”

George Akume (Benue northwest) added: “Alamieyeseigha served in Benue, and it was while serving at the Air force in Benue, that I got to know him. He was one of the pioneer politicians supporting the formation of the PDP. From time to time, we shared certain ideas for our country.

“While we referred to him as hero of ijaw nation, Alamieyeseigha saw himself beyond the Ijaw nation. He regarded himself first and foremost as a Nigerian. When he was fighting for resource control, he said, ‘If I were a senior person at the time of mining in the north in those days, I would have supported the establishment of a fund to support the reclamation of land of the plateau’. He was not just an Ijaw person, he was a Nigerian person.

“Alamieyeseigha had to leave government house for Nigeria to get another person from Ijaw nation, the man who later became our president. The circumstances were unconstitutional and illegal and I know a few of the governors were targeted in those days. We lost Alamieyeseigha, but we gained another person as president of our country.

“Perhaps if Alamieyeseigha had continued, he would have become the president of this nation, nobody knows, but God knows.”

Jonah Jang (Plateau north) also praised Alamieyeseigha’s life, saying: “He served under me in the Nigerian Air force; he was a fine officer. I wrote his confidential reports that made him flight officer. When Alamieyeseigha was again elected governor, it was a thing of pride to me.
I visited him, he took us round, he drove himself, took us round the projects he was executing up to the state university he built, and I want to say he has laid a very solid foundation for the development of Bayelsa state. I pray the Almighty God would comfort the people of Bayelsa state particularly his beloved wife and family.”

The senate president accented the prayers raised in the sponsored bill; and a delegation “to be led deputy chief whip, Francis Alimikhena, Senator Olujimi, Kurfi, Aliero, Dariye and all the senators from Bayelsa state” will be sent to the ex-governor’s house on a condolence visit.

Alamieyeseigha died from cardiac arrest induced by high blood pressure and diabetes on Saturday after falling into a coma and was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, where he was reportedly placed on a life support machine.

Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached on allegations of corruption in December 2005, faced series of corruption allegations. In September 2005, the UK’s metropolitan police detained him after finding about £1 million cash on him, and another £1.8 million in cash and accounts. He was subsequently charged with money laundering but he jumped bail, allegedly disguising as a woman, and returned to the country.