N’Delta Elders Mourn Graham-Douglas

As the remains of the four-time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and elder statesman in the Niger Delta region, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas were laid to rest at his home town, Abonnema, on Saturday, some elders and leaders in the region have mourned him, and demanded for immortalisation of his name.
Some of the elders that spoke to Aviation correspondents on the demise of Alabo, separately, on their arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, lamented that a hero and unifier has left the stage.
Speaking on the issue, an elder statesman and the Head of Jumbo Major House in Grand Bonny in Rivers State, Chief Jasper Jumbo, said the late Alabo was a true symbol of a Rivers man, and indeed the Niger Delta.
“It is painful that we have lost such a man at this time that his wealth of knowledge and experience are needed more. He was a bridge builder, and is always ready to offer advice on how to go about issues.
“We, in the Niger Delta, are missing such an icon who has contributed immensely to the development and sustenance of Rivers State, and the way to remember him is for his name to be immortalised”, Jumbo said.
Also speaking in a chat with Aviation correspondents, the former Ambassador of Nigeria to Japan, Amb. Godknows Ighali of Bayelsa State, said the late Alabo Graham-Douglas was a man that used his position for the upliftment of the Niger Delta.
“As a man who got ministerial position for four times, he was just a simple man. He was a founding member of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and he made a lot of sacrifice to ensuring that the voice of the region was heard on national issues”, he said.

By: Corlins Walter