Elders and leaders of the Ijaw extraction On Friday payed glowing tributes to the first civilian Governor of the state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
The late former Governor, who died on October 10, 2015, is slated to be committed to mother earth on Saturday, April 9 in his hometown, Amassoma.
Immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, who were direct beneficiaries of the late alamieyeseigha’s benevolence were at the event.
They called for unity amongst Niger Deltans and indeed all Nigerians and support for the nation’s leadership.
Governor Seriake Dickson lauded the leadership virtues of late Alamieyeseigha, describing him as a true leader in deeds and words.
One of the other persons who spoke, Comrade Udengs Eradiri, also recounted the late former Governor’s contributions to the struggle for fiscal federalism in Nigeria and development of the Niger delta.
Other persons at the event were late Alamieyeseigha’s wife, Margaret, wife of the State Governor, Dr. Rachel Dickson, National and State Assembly members including Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, former Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku.
Alamieyeseigha reportedly died of cardiac arrest at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, after slipping into coma two days before his death and was placed on life support.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Esueme Dan-Kikili, who confirmed the death to Channels Television, said that the death of the former governor was a great loss to the Ijaw ethnic group.
There were reports before his death that the British Government was determined to resurrect an outstanding case of money laundering against the former governor and had requested for his extradition to London.