The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has described the death of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as shocking.
It said the death of the former governor, who was known as “Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation,” as saddening.
The Acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, said this in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday.
He said all organs of the party, including members of its National Executive Committee were shocked at the demise of the retired Air Force officer, which occurred on Saturday at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, in Choba, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who signed the statement, said the party “is still in shock over the news of the sudden death of the former governor, describing 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 very 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.”
In the same vein, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condoled the family of former governor of Bayelsa, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
In a statement issued, yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also condoled with the Bayelsa Government on the death of the former governor.
According to the statement, the party received the news of Alamieyeseigha’s demise with great shock, considering that he was not publicly reported to have been gravely ill.
It stated that ‘’APC prays that the family will find comfort in their moment of sadness as well as the strength to bear the loss of their loved one,’’ the statement added.
Also, the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has commiserated with the Alamieyeseigha family, government and people of Bayelsa State as well as the Ijaw Nation, at large, over the sudden death of the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Okowa, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, described Alamieyeseigha’s exit as shocking and painful.
“The late Alamieyeseigha was loved by the Ijaws who saw him as a rallying point for the reawakening of the spirit of togetherness irrespective of the spread of the Ijaws in all riverine areas of the country. No wonder they nicknamed him ‘Governor General of the Ijaw nation,’” Okowa noted.
Okowa extolled the humility of the late Alamieyeseigha which enabled him to mentor up-coming politicians culminating in his Deputy Governor, Goodluck Jonathan, rising to become Nigeria’s president.
Okowa said may God grant the late Alamieyeseigha eternal rest, and enjoined the family, government of Bayelsa state and the Ijaws in general to immortalize him by ensuring that the Ijaws remain united and speak with one voice, at all times.
Similarly, Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, yesterday issued a tribute in honour of late former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, describing the deceased ex-governor as a great man and lover of his people.
Part of the statement reads: “Alamieyeseigha was my friend. A good man. A great man. A lover of his people. They reverently refer to him as The Governor General of Ijaw Nation. And truly, he was.
“When Goodluck Jonathan’s hope of succeeding the late President Yar’Adua was in jeopardy, I know what he did. I know the burden he bore. I know the struggles and travails he went through.
“He humbled himself He silently and strenuously pleaded with friends and foes from all over the nation.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the resultant effect of his efforts will be to promote his subordinate to a political level that will forever be above him and a height he will never attain himself.
“This is a character trait uncommon among politicians. Many who believe they must be the only star in the firmament.
“Also like a good Christian he openly, publicly and sincerely forgave President Obasanjo who was his jailer.
“Alams, my friend Alams, ‘how indeed are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perish. Tell this not in Gath, publish this not on the streets of Ashkelon. Lest our Philistines triumph and their sons rejoice.’’’
“DSP you have run a good race and fought a good fight. A sure crown awaits you with our Lord, your Maker.
“As the Crown Prince of the Ijaw Nation bows out, May the God of Almighty who till this day still stands with His people, stand by and bless your people you have left behind,” said Okupe
The Acting Paramount Ruler of Amassoma Kingdom, Bayelsa State, Chief Sharp Nengi Sogo, said yesterday, that the late former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was like a God to his people.
Alamieyeseigha, who died of high blood pressure-related ailment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, hailed from Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.
The monarch, who spoke with our correspondent in his palace, said the news of Alamiyeseigha’s demise shocked every resident of the town, where the Niger Delta University, is located.
Sogo said, “When we heard the news of the death, every person in the community was shocked and sad. There was wailing and weeping all over the place. Alamieyeseigha was one of the best leaders we have had in Ijaw land.  He was like a father and grandfather to the people of Amassoma.
“I cannot enumerate all the things that he did for the community because they are indeed too many. But the landmark projects he attracted to the community are the Niger Delta University, highway from Tombia to Amassoma, construction of many internal roads, health facilities and others.
“For many of us in Amassoma, he was like a God. We will indeed miss him. We pray that God Almighty will give his soul eternal peace.”
The monarch said Alamieyeseigha was hale and hearty two weeks ago when he came to the community with his political associates in connection with the upcoming state’s governorship election.
He said they did not have any inkling that the man they saw bubbling with life a fortnight ago could die just like that.
Sogo added, “He affected many lives in the community positively that the gap created by his exit will be difficult to fill. Without him, Amassoma would have been desolate. To everybody in the community, Alamiyeseigha’s death has dealt a devastating blow to them.
“He had promised when he came last time that he and his political friends were coming this week. We have been waiting for them anxiously, now we have received the shocking news of all time. We are in real pains and anguish.”
Also, Alamiyeseigha’s nephew, Chief Yeritimi Femo, said his uncle’s death had left him devastated since Saturday.
Femo said, “I was devastated when I got the information that my uncle was dead. I was more devastated because I did not hear that he was sick before getting the information that he died.
“I learnt that he was on life support for three days at UPTH before he finally gave up the ghost. He was everything to us. Up till now, I have yet to come to terms that he has died.”
However, reactions by pan-Ijaw groups have continued to trail the sudden death of former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Dieprieye Alamayiesiegha, with a common stand that the Federal Government should be held responsible for the incident.
In their separate statements, yesterday, the groups said the recent extradition notice purportedly issued by Britain on the former governor aggravated his health condition that resulted in 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 Alamasieyiegha and regretted the circumstances surrounding it.
It noted in the statement signed by 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.
Eteli said, “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 UK that must have triggered his health condition for the worse and the sudden death.”
He, therefore, said the federal government should be held responsible for the death of Alamayiesiegha, noting its alleged role by instigating the British authorities to issue an extradition notice.
It would be recalled that the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, died on Saturday at the age of 62.
He was said to have died of high blood pressure.
Alamieyeseigha, who died around 4pm, was earlier rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from his residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday.
He was said to have stayed briefly in Yenagoa last week before he went to Port Harcourt, where his health condition worsened.
It was learnt that the ex-governor later slipped into a coma, and was on life support for two days before his death on Saturday.
His remains, according to a source at the UPTH, were later moved to the mortuary in the hospital.
When contacted, the Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Professor Aaron Ojule, declined to speak on the matter, but rather said that his family was in a better position to comment on the matter.
Often referred to as the ‘Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation,’ Alameiyeseigha had a turbulent political past when he was the governor of Bayelsa State. He was the governor of Bayelsa State from 1999 to 2005.
He was once accused of corruption and allegedly disguised as a woman in London in order to evade arrest over charges of money laundering and was later impeached as a governor.
Alamieyeseigha was a die-hard supporter of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson.
The United Kingdom had in 2013 requested for his extradition to the country to face trial but Jonathan, did not grant the request. The administration then granted him presidential pardon.
The British government, again, sought the support of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to extradite Alamieyeseigha to London for trial on alleged money laundering.
Alamieyeseigha, died a month to his 63rd birthday. Pardoned by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for his conviction on corrupt practices as Governor of Bayelsa, he was recently thrown into a panic state by the request of the British government for his extradition.
The request by the government of United Kingdom has however been a subject of criticism as Ijaw groups and political leaders had described it as suspicious and a political vendetta by the President Buhari Administration.
Alamieyeseigha had in recent times also been a strong advocate of the second term aspiration of the incumbent Governor of the state, Seriake Dickson.
In his last outing as one of the political leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in the state, Alamieyeseigha had been clamouring for the people to vote for the PDP.
He had perceived that the upcoming onslaught of the All Progressives Congress in the state during the forthcoming December 5 governorship poll would not work as the state is solely for the PDP.
The news of the demise of Alamieyeseigha, who until his death was regarded as one of the greatest leaders the state had ever had, hit the residents like a thunderstorm.
In every nook and cranny of the state, particularly in Yenagoa, residents, especially of the Ijaw stock, were seen discussing the death in hush tones.
In his swift reaction, Saturday, Governor Seriake Dickson, described Alamieseigha’s death as a personal loss to him, the government and people of Bayelsa.
He described the deceased political icon as a strong pillar of support to his government, stressing that his demise was a painful and monumental loss to the entire Ijaw nation, which he had always stood firm for in all its ramifications.
Dickson in a statement by his media aide, Daniel Iworiso-Markson said, “The Bayelsa State Government also commiserates with his wife, Margret, his immediate family, the Alamieyeseighas, the entire people of the state. The Ijaw nation has indeed lost a rare gem.”