Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori,
on Wednesday wept at the graveside of
former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepriye
Alamieyeseigha.
Mr. Ibori visited the graveside during a
condolence visit to the family of the
deceased in Amassoma, Bayelsa State.
Messrs. Ibori and Alamieyeseigha were
elected governors on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party as Nigeria
returned to civil rule in 1999 and re-elected
in 2003. But Mr. Alamieyeseigha was
impeached and jailed for alleged corrupt
practice a year later, while Mr. Ibori
completed his second term before he was
also jailed in the United Kingdom for corrupt
practice as governor.
Mr. Alamieyeseigha died in November 2015
while his friend and ally was still serving his
jail term abroad.
Mr. Ibori who was accompanied on the visit
to Amassoma by political leaders and
stakeholders from Delta State, including the
Speaker of the State House of Assembly,
Monday Igbuya, described Mr.
Alamieyeseigha as a patriotic leader who
was very courageous and outspoken and
stood on the side of his people at all times.
He said he was devastated when news of
Mr. Alamieyeseigha’s death got to him in
the United Kingdom where Mr. Ibori was in
prison.
He said they both shared a common
ideology and relationship, which was very
deep, and added that Mr. Alamieyeseigha
fought against oppression and evil which
ultimately led to his untimely death.
While sympathising with the family of the
deceased former governor, Mr. Ibori urged
the family to take solace in the fact that he
was a good man who will forever be
remembered for his legacies and also the
reality that what he believed in will not die.
The former Delta State Governor who
equally took time to visit the graveside of
Mr. Alamieyeseigha assured the family that
he would always remember and stand by
them, as Mr. Alamieyeseigha would have
done same for his family.
Earlier, Mr. Ibori had visited Bayelsa State
Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the
Government House in Yenagoa where he
also expressed his sympathy to the
government and people of the state over the
death of their first civilian governor.
According to him, the visit was to appreciate
Governor Dickson for immortalising the
deceased by renaming the Government
House banquet hall after him and for
pushing forward his noble ideas of
governance and strong agitation for rights of
Ijaw people and Niger Delta.
“I take solace in the fact that having met
you, I am encouraged that indeed the flag
only flew half mast for a couple of days and
after that the flag is flying again. Thank you
for playing your bit to immortalise him. He
may have left us but his spirit is still with
us”.
In his remarks, Governor Dickson said the
visit was solemn but historic and thanked
Mr. Ibori for his thoughtfulness to visit the
family, which he said emphasised the
brotherliness that existed between him and
the late former governor.
Mr. Dickson, who called on people of the
Niger Delta to stop betraying their leaders,
said both Messrs. Alamieyeseigha and Ibori
were victims of the Niger Delta struggle,
adding that their travails were as a result of
their campaign for resource control and
fiscal federalism.
“We have done enough when it comes to
betraying, sabotaging and pulling down one
another, especially our leaders. Nobody in
this nation will build and sustain leaders for
us, we have to build our leaders, support
and encourage them. So, I think the time has
come for us in the Niger Delta to turn a new
leaf and learn from others”.
from premiumtimes

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By Kisha

Henry Treasure Generally Addressed As Kisha is a Young Nigerian Entrepreneur, Humanist, Content Creator, Blogger & CEO of WWW.AMIBOISLAND.COM As Much as i love my simplicity, i also Eat & Dine With Controversy. My personality Is Quite a Unique One, Isn't it? Lol!

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