The expansive homes of the late Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha in Yenagoa, the state capital, and his country home in Amasomma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, were deserted yesterday.
The compound of the late Ijaw chief was quiet, devoid of activities and visits expected from his kinsmen and political colleague, following his sudden demise.
Alamieyeseigha died on Saturday at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
He was 62.
But it was gathered that his wife, Margaret, and other children were still at their home in Port Harcourt. They had not returned to the late former governor’s home at Amasomma.
Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states were thrown into mourning at the weekend, following the sudden death of the first civilian governor of the state.
Alamieyeseigha, popularly known during his administration as the Governor-General of the Niger Delta, reportedly died, after falling in a coma for about three days.
It was gathered that the former governor, who was the most popular politician in the state, died of cardiac arrest.
Alamieyeseigha was said to have developed health complications after returning from an undisclosed hospital in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE), for medical checks.
Unconfirmed reports said he could not complete his treatment in Dubai after hearing of his extradition request by the United Kingdom (UK).
The recent request by the UK to extradite Alamieyeseigha for prosecution for alleged corruption caused panic and uproar in Bayelsa State; many groups condemned it, saying the law abhorred double jeopardy.
Alamieyeseigha is said to have been survived by seven children and a wife.
But one of the children, Oyemifa, died in a controversial circumstance in Dubai a year ago, leaving five sons and a daughter.
Compound deserted
Our correspondent, who visited the Alamieyeseighas’ compound at Opolo in Yenagoa at the weekend, said there was no sign of life in the house.
The gate was locked and nobody was around to attend to visitors.
At Amasomma, the community where Alamieyeseigha hailed from, people were going about their normal daily activities.
Most residents were not aware that the former governor, who single-handedly turned his village into a town, was dead.
His massive compound dotted with many beautiful buildings at Amasomma was also desolate.
An elderly gateman told our correspondent that the immediate family of his boss were in Port Harcourt.
“You cannot go in because there is nobody in the compound. Madam and others are in Port Harcourt. Oga died there,” said the man, who refused to mention his name.
The gateman said the late Alamieyeseigha was at home about two weeks ago – his last visit.
At the home of the late Alamieyeseigha’s stepmother, children were playing football while the old woman and other elderly women were grieving over their loss in the sitting room.
They declined to comment on the former governor’s demise.
Bayelsa comunity’s monarch
But the acting paramount ruler of the community, Chief Sharp Sogo, said the residents were shocked by the former governor’s death.
He likened the community’s reverence for the late Alamieyeseigha to that of a god.
Sogo said: “When the sad news filtered into this community, everybody was not happy. Boys, girls, men and women cried. He was one of the best leaders we had in this community. He was just like a father and grandfather to everybody.”
The monarch said the late Alamieyeseigha had his last outing in the community when he vivited with his political associates and community leaders to plan for the December 5 governorship election.
He said the former governor was a rallying point and a voice of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which relied on him to win the election.
Sogo said: “We can’t count the values he added to this community. They are too many to mention. Without him, there couldn’t have been Amasomma. He brought the university and built the roads. Everybody took him like a god.”
The monarch said Alamieyeseigha died without fulfilling some of the promises to the community.
He said: “It was obvious he was not through with the community yet. He promised that a shore protection project would be completed and many other things would be done to further develop Amassoma. We will greatly miss him.”
Sogo said community leaders would plan a befitting burial for Alamieyeseigha, adding that the community would work with the state government.
Burial plans
There were indications yesterday that the government was planning a state burial for the late former governor.
It was gathered that the government was planning to bury him at the Heroes’ Park, a special cemetery constructed by Governor Seriake Dickson for the interments of persons considered as heroes of Ijaw nation.
He was to be flown abroad
There were plans to fly Alamieyeseigha overseas for further treatment before he died on Saturday.
An official of the state government, who spoke in confidence, said Bayelsa State deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (retd), was planning to fly Alamieyeseigha abroad for further treatment, after visiting the former governor at the hospital in Port Harcourt.
Jonah was said to be at Omoku, in Rivers State, for a programme when heard of the former governor’s poor health.
The deputy governor reportedly called him on phone on Friday and spoke with him at 8.15pm.
“This is a sad loss for Bayelsa and the Ijaw. Contrary to the claim that Alamieyeseigha was in coma for two days before he passed on, the deputy governor, who was at Omoku for a programme at Agip, on hearing about Alamieyeseigha’s poor health, called and spoke with him on phone at 8.15pm,” the source said.
It was learnt that Jonah directed Health Commissioner Dr. Ayibatonye Owei to stay back and monitor him.
The deputy governor was said to have later visited him at the hospital on Saturday morning before leaving for Yenagoa with an instruction that an air ambulance be put on notice for him (Aalamieyeseigha) to be flown abroad for further treatment.
“Shortly after the deputy governor arrived in Yenagoa, he received the sad news that Alamieyeseigha had passed on,” the source said.
Information and Orientation Commissioner Dan Kikile said Jonah spoke with Alamieyeseigha on phone on Friday but declined further comments.
He also said Alamieyeseigha died of complications from high blood pressure and diabetics, which affected his kidney.
“He had chronic kidney disease, which was aggravated by the sudden rise in his blood pressure and the long diabetics,” Kikile said.
Ijaw declare seven days of mourning
The umbrella organisation of the Ijaw, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide has declared seven days of mourning, from today, for Alamieyeseigha.
During the period, Ijaw’s flag would fly at half mast, according to INC’s President Boma Obuoforibo.
In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, INC noted that with Alamieyeseigha’s death, a tragedy had befallen the ethnic nationality.
The statement said: “The Ijaw nation was thrown into grief by the death of Chief Alamieyeseigha, the Governor-General of the Ijaw nation, on Saturday, October 10, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, following a cardiac arrest.
“On behalf of the INC Worldwide, we commensurate with his wife, Margaret, the Alamieyeiseigha family of Amassoma, the Ogboin clan, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and the Government and people of Bayelsa State, on this great tragedy that has befallen the Ijaw.
“May the gentle soul of DSP Alamieyeseigha rest in peace, in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
“In honour of this great, vocal and irrepressible Pan-Ijaw nationalist, we hereby announce seven days of mourning, beginning from October 12. During this period, Ijaw’s flag will fly at half mast.”
The INC hinted that its leadership would liaise with the Alamieyeseigha family and the state government on a befitting burial for “our great leader and hero.
PDP mourns
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grief over the death of Alamieyeseigha.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the party was in shock over the sudden death of the former governor.
It described the development as deeply saddening.
The statement said: “The PDP mourns the demise of this great Nigerian, who made immense contributions and sacrifices towards the unity, stability and development of his state and our dear nation, both as a military officer and a politician.
“Alamieyeseigha was a true democrat, humble leader, brilliant administrator who had extraordinary love for his people. He was an outstanding party man, who, despite his travails, remained loyal to the PDP at state and national levels to the end.
“The PDP sincerely commiserates with Governor Seriake Dickson, the Alamieyeseigha family, the Ijaw kingdom and the people of Bayelsa State and pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss.”
APC commiserates with family, Bayelsa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condoled with the family and friends of the former governor.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also condoled with the Bayelsa State Government over the death of its former governor.
The party said it received the news of the former governor’s demise with great shock, considering that he was not publicly reported to have been gravely ill.
APC prayed that the family would find comfort in their moment of sadness as well as the strength to bear the loss of their loved one.
“May the soul of the departed also rest in perfect peace,” the party said.
Atiku eulogises ex-governor
Former Vice-President and APC chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said Alamieyeseigha was an astute politician who protected the interest of the Ijaw.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media office, Atiku said he was shocked by the former governor’s death.
The Turaki Adamawa eulogised the late Alamieyeseigha for being a worthy ambassador of the Ijaw and for contributing his quota to serving the nation and the development of democracy.
He said: “No one can dispute the fact that the late Governor-General of the Ijaw, as he was fondly called, stood firm like a rock in preserving the interest of the Ijaw, and was a strong supporter of democratic governance in Nigeria.
“The news of the demise of Alamieyeseigha came to me, as with many Nigerians, as a rude shock. He was a true leader of the Ijaw and contributed his quota to the development of Bayelsa State when he was governor.
“I recall with fond memories the deep appreciation the late Alamieyeseigha had for democratic governance in Nigeria. Irrespective of the divergent opinions of Nigerians about his legacies as the governor of Bayelsa State, Alamieyeseigha died earning the respect and admiration of the people of Bayelsa State and, I dare say, the people of Ijaw land. He was a friend and a brother. Like the people of Bayelsa State, I will miss him, too.
“It was only a few days ago he visited me, wishing me well as I recovered from my leg procedure.”
Atiku prayed God to give the Alamieyeseigha family, Bayelsa State and the Ijaw the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Nation
Akpabio regrets death of colossus
Former Akwa Ibom State governor and Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio has described Alamieyeseigha’s death as the loss of a political colossus to Bayelsa, the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
In a statement by his media aide, Jackson Udom, the former governor said: “The sudden death of DSP Alamieyeseigha has robbed the Niger Delta of a committed and dedicated indigene, who was always in the forefront of the struggle for the emancipation and development of the region.”
The statement added: “I also commiserate with the immediate family of the former governor, people and government of Bayelsa State, the Ijaw nation, the PDP and Nigeria for this great loss. I pray God to grant the family and the Niger Delta the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
