The Death Of A Model? Alamieyeseigha

The death of courageous and indefatigable leader popularly called Governor-General of the ijaw nation, Chief Dr. Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, the first Executive Governor of Bayelsa State is a great loss to the nation, izon-land and the entire Niger Delta region, the home of the main-stay of the nation economy.

Diepreye S.P. Alamieyeseigha, Diepreye God-Gift and Alamieyeseigha, Richness is good in Okrika dialect of the ijaw language died October 10, 2015 at the age of 62 years in Port Harcourt.

Niger Deltans where grieved of his demise. Fondly called DSP or Alamco, the political father by the masses, indeed is a messiah to his people. Alamieyeseigha is next to the late nationalist and Elder statesman, His Royal Highness, Pere, Dr. Harold Dappa-Biriye, JP, the father of the ijaw nation in terms of being patriotic to his people emancipation from the shackle of the personality of cult at the federal level.

Alamieyeseigha was born in 16 November, 1952 at the ancient ijaw city-state of Amassoma; the largest ijaw community in Bayelsa State. Alamco, having completed primary school, thereafter; college at Bishop Dimeari Grammar School in Yenogoa, on graduation from secondary school Education, he gained admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy NDA, Kaduna as a cadet officer in 1974 and he was presidential commissioned as a pilot officer in the logistics and supply department into the Nigerian Air force NAF and retired in 1992 as a squadron leader.

In 1999, when winds of change, democracy blossom, he joined the then ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party PDP , where he obtained PDP form to contest the Governorship election and won the golden seat of the Governor and sworn in 29 may,1999 as Governor of Bayelsa state , the land of Glory.

Alamco, statesmanship and beacon of hope in the Niger Delta struggle in his native land and region was seen as a messiah and saviour. He had negotiated peace deal with local resources agitators in the creeks to released expatriates held hostage in the Niger Delta.

It is a gain-saying that most of the political leaders in Nigeria can do practically anything either by violence, thuggery, arson, intimidation and snatching of electoral materials to win elections. But Chief Alamieyeseigha, a matured politicians without stress he was massively voted by the electorates as the choice of the people, because he had the welfare of the people at heart.

DSP Alamieyeseigha, he run a government that carries every one along irrespective of religion and tribes because of that he was re-elected in 2003. Governance is about providing good leadership, for him the masses first. How l wish we still had people like Alamco, a lover of his people in this country.

His pan- ijaws beliefs are further strengthen at the first conference of the Ijaw National Congress INC; the Apex-ijaw socio-political group world-wide hosted by Alamieyeseigha in Yenogoa at his height of his glory.

Overtime, his speech delivered were seen by them, those at the federal level, a threat to their saddle of power. Nigeria is a place where injustice reigns? With the situation worsening by the day, the grudge against Alamco seems to be increasing everyday; as it is currently experiencing now by those in government as same forces in 2005, right abuses and a loss of faith in the future of the secular hope.

For those who say, he was corrupt and arrested on false charges of money laundering in United Kingdom by the British agents in connivance with local Nigerian spy who worked to undermine him in power, later, jump bail in controversial manner.

The recent extradition notice, threat by the authority in United Kingdom must have aggravated the health of the foremost ljaw son.

In my community , Ogu , Headquarter of Ogu/Bolo local government area of Rivers state when the news of the demise of the highly respected illustrious Son and Ijaw leader , former Governor of Bayelsa state was received, shocked and saddened envelopes the Ijaw town. He will be remembered for the role he played during the political motivated crisis that engulfed my Clan, Wakirike-se (Okrika) Rivers ijaw communities in 2003.

The passed away of the D.S.P. had received grief tributes and condolences from all walks of life notable are former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON. Expressed grief over the sudden death of former Bayelsa sate Governor, describing him as a leader who was committed to the development of his state and his native Ijaw-land.

Dr. Jonathan’s was once deputy Governor to the late DSP Alamieyeseigha in Bayelsa state. Also a condolence messages signed on behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, by senior special assistant on media and publicity Malam Garba Shehu quotes, the President called on the ijaw people of Nigeria to take heart over the loss of one of their notable indigenes. Buhari noted that the late Alamieyeseigha was well loved by his people.

The love was expressed in the way they supported him through his time in public office, and also in the way they stood by him after he left office, in good times, as in bad time, he said President Buhari sympathised with the family of the deceased asking them to take the loss as God’s will, while, the present Executive Governor of Bayelsa state Chief Seriake Dickson declared days of national mourning and described the death of the first civilian Governor of the state as a personal loss to him, the government and people of the state and great loss to Ijaw nation, at large. D.S.P Alamieyeseigha was a staunch supporter of his administration at Creek haven, the Bayelsa seat of power.

In same vein, ljaw National Congress (INC) in a statement issued by the publicity secretary Victor Burubo declared 7 days of mourning in all ljaw communities and described the late foremost ijaw charismatic leader, Alamieyeseigha death as a tragic loss to the Ijaw nation. He was a man who served his people very well. He will be remembered for the legacy he left behind as the Governor of Bayelsa state and his contribution to the ijaw nation.

His party PDP, nationwide mourn the death of its party faithful and the Party is still in shock over the news of the sudden death of the former Governor , which he described as deeply saddened accordly to it National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh.

The Bible says: in the Book of Ecclesiastes 3 V 16 – 17.

Moreover I saw under the sun: in the place of judgement, wickedness was there;

And in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there.

I said in my heart,
God shall judge the righteous and the wicked,
For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

I, join well-meaning Nigerians in mourning Alamieyeseigha, one of the greatest Ijaw patriots, the fearless, forthright, outspoken and dedicated political father and community leader who made sacrifices for the people.

Alamco, D.S.P his a great inspiration to all of us. May his beloved soul rest in perfect peace.

JINBOBARAYE KARIBO-NELSON, JP, SCIPM. FECRMI

A social commentator and security analyst, a Senior member chartered Institute of Public Management Of Nigeria and Full member Emergency, Crisis and Risk Management Institute of Nigeria

Writes from Ogu Town, Rivers State, Port Harcourt via [email protected] and www.karibonelson.

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Articles by Jinbobaraye Karibo-nelson