Dickson immortalises Alamieyeseigha, says Ijaw nation has lost a strong pillar

The Bayelsa State government on Friday renamed the Banquet Hall, Government House as Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Hall, thereby signalling the first step towards immortalising the first civilian governor of the State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The government also named after him the Etegwe/Tombia Road linking his hometown, Amassoma.

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, who made the pronouncement during a valedictory State Executive Council (SEC) session in Yenagoa, said the state government would build a mausoleum for Mr. Alamieyeseigha and other Ijaw leaders, including the first civilian governor of old Rivers State, Melford Okilo, General Owoye Azazi, Harold Dappa Biriye, Rex Jim Lawson, among others at the Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park in Yenagoa.

He lamented that the Ijaws lost a foremost voice in the person of Mr. Alamieyeseigha, who was fondly called Governor General of the Ijaw nation.

The governor describing the Executive Council Session held in honour of Mr. Alamieyeseigha as extra-ordinary.

Mr. Dickson said, “The state has lost a foremost voice but in solidarity and celebration of a life well lived, the government has started the tradition of honouring its heroes from Gen. Owoye Azazi, Isaac Adaka Boro and King Robert Ebizimor.

“I urge Bayelsans and all Ijaws to be united and support the ideals and vision Chief Alamieyeseigha labored and died for. Let us continue to rally the Ijaws for positive development as he came saw and did his best. We all will miss his wise counsel, doggedness and belief in the Ijaw cause.”

In a tribute, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan said the former governor touched many lives in a positive way, saying he lived a brief but fulfilled life.

He said as deputy governor, Mr. Alamieyeseigha gave him every opportunity to run the state in his absence.

While commending Governor Dickson for honouring Mr. Alamieyeseigha by giving him a state burial, Mr. Jonathan urged him to continue with the tradition, describing the departure of the Ijaw leader as a very sad and personal loss.

The Secretary to the State Government, Serena Dokubo-Spiff, said the  late Mr. Alamieyeseigha was a trail blazer, an epitome of justice and fair play.

The State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, said the foundation and growth of the Judiciary was laid by late governor, providing tools for the judiciary to work effectively and efficiently.

The valedictory Executive Council session had in attendance all former commissioners from 1999 to date, most of whom who spoke glowingly about the achievements of Mr. Alamieyeseigha.

Some of the commissioners and political leaders, who spoke about the legacies of the late Ijaw leader were Steve Azaiki, one-time Secretary to State Government; Claudius Inengesi, former Commissioner; Megan Bozimo, former commissioner; Agatha Goma; Senator Inatimi Rufus Spiff; Ambassador Godknows Igali; Thompson Okorotie, former Special Adviser on Political Matters; King Alfred Diete Spiff, chairman of Traditional Rulers Council and Amayanabo of Twon Brass.
Mr. Alamieyeseigha died on October 10, 2015. He was 63.

In September 2005, the former governor was arrested and tried in London for money laundering. He jumped bail and fled to Nigeria.

But on arrival in Nigeria, he was impeached by the Bayelsa House of Assembly, prosecuted and jailed.

On March 13, 2013, Mr. Jonathan gave Mr. Alamieyeseigha presidential pardon,  detaching the ex-convict tag from his name.