Ijaw Groups blame APC for Alamayiesegha death

More reactions by pan-Ijaw groups yesterday trailed the sudden death of

former governor of Bayelsa State, Dieprieye Alamayiesiegha, with a common

stand that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be held responsible

for the incident.
In their separate statements made available to the media, the groups said

the recent extradition notice purportedly issued by Britain on the former

governor aggravated his health condition and his eventual death.

The Ijaw Heritage and Cultural Club based in the United States in its

statement said it was shocked beyond words by the news of the sudden death

of DSP Alamasieyiegha and regretted the circumstances surrounding it.

It noted in the statement signed by one Prof. Julius Eteli that

Alamayiesiegha’s death was curious given the fact that he regularly

received medical treatment abroad, adding that the former Governor-General

of the Ijaw nation had actually returned from such medical trips in Dubai

believed to have been facilitated by the Bayelsa State Government.

“From available reports, the Bayelsa State Government has always been of

assistance to him, taking care of his medical bills and upkeep. The

question is: how can a man who had just returned from Dubai having been

attended to by experts die so suddenly? Clearly, it must have been the

report of his extradition to the U.K that must have triggered his health

condition for the worse and the sudden death”, the group stated.

It, therefore, said the APC government should be held responsible for the

death of Alamayiesiegha, noting its alleged role by instigating the

British authorities to issue an extradition notice. The group also claimed

that the alleged extradition notice, from all indications, was targeted at

witch-hunting the late former governor, asking “why wait all these years

until now to issue such a notice?”
Another pan-Ijaw group based in Ireland, Izon Diaspora Association, in its

statement also condemned the demise of Alamayiesiegha which it said was

caused by the APC government for political reasons.

The group said the sad development was a calculated move by the ruling APC

government to silence the Ijaw movement, knowing full well that

Alamayiesiegha represented the soul and moving spirit of the Ijaw

movement.
“Now that he has been taken out, we Ijaws must fight against this

injustice. Now is the time to unite, come together and fight against this

calculated and very deadly plot by the APC government to deplete our

ranks”, Convener and leader of the group, Comrade George Magbisa stated.

He was full of praises for the Bayelsa State government for standing by

the late Ijaw leader all through, noting that only a committed Ijaw

governor like Seriake Dickson, himself a leading figure in the Ijaw

struggle, could have been so supportive as he did to the former governor.

The group extended its condolences to “the contriman governor, the

government and good people of Bayelsa State over the death of the

respected governor-general of the Ijaw nation.”

Meanwhile, feelers from the streets of Yenagoa, the state capital,

revealed an atmosphere of gloom, anger and a deep sense of loss among the

people over the death of the beloved former governor.

Youths seen gathered in street corners discussing the sad incident could

not hide their anger and bitterness as they rained curses on the

Buhari-led APC government for its alleged role in the Alamayiesiegha’s

sudden death.