The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • The ala(r)ming lies in Bayelsa

    When the head of the immediate past Ijaw nation and a former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, died, a few people did not know the difference between science and superstition. They elevated rumour to the level of political wizardry.

    But first it was a desecration of the dead. The government of Bayelsa State showed no respect for the former leader of the Ijaw nation when they said the All Progressives Congress (APC) led to the death of DSP, as he is fondly called. The reason was that if APC did not win the last presidential election, he would be alive today.

    What a folly! The APC did not vote itself into power. The Nigerian people did. By implication, Governor Seriake Dickson and his folks in Bayelsa   State house are alleging that the Nigerian voter killed DSP. In one word, democracy killed the man. That is the height of political superstition.

    President Muhammadu Buhari won that election, in case Dickson and his Peoples Democratic Party fiction peddlers do not know it. He had enough votes to be declared the president.

    Let us go to science. The former governor, according the medical reports, died of complications from high blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure, in case they do not understand it, is a biological condition, not political ailment. It happens to the human blood and the human tissues and consequently it makes a person fragile and can be fatal. In the case of DSP, it was. Diabetes refers to high sugar content. It also happens in the blood and can eat into the tissues and turn the person to weak and fragile condition. It also can be fatal. Each of the two conditions, when it gets to a breaking point, can kill any human. He reportedly had both. So death came knocking unfortunately.

    So why were they saying that APC killed the man? They also argue that if Jonathan were in power, he would not have had a new brush with the British judicial system, and therefore his complications would have arisen. What a performance!

    It is no credit to their own son Goodluck Jonathan that they paint him, just as E.K. Clark did, as weak on corruption. So shall we stop the war on corruption because some people might die?

    What is the scientific proof that it was the extradition request of the British Government that led to DSP’s death? The man was reportedly receiving treatment in the United Arabs Emirates. He suddenly abandoned the hospital and came home. Why did the Dickson administration and the PDP not insist he received the best care.

    If Hardball were to go superstition then it is tempting to believe that allowing him to leave the chambers of care accounted for this unfortunate outcome. So, who to blame for that?

    We are supposed to be running governments based on scientific enquiry, not the wild reaches of a superstitious imagination. It is not time to ala(r)m Nigeria with lies.

  • Police set for Kogi, Bayelsa governorship elections

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Force Spokesperson, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    It said that the Inspector-General of Police, (I-G) Mr Solomon Arase, has perfected plans to deploy additional manpower to the states to ensure crime-free elections.

    The statement said that the police leadership had also directed the deployment of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

    It stated that the I-G noted that the measures had become imperative to ensure proper monitoring of activities leading to a hitch-fee election.

    “This is in addition to stepping up police visibilities on our Highways during the Yuletide.

    “This is to systematically decapitate hoodlums taking advantage of the season to unleash terror on innocent Nigerians,” the statement added.

     

  • PDP alleges plot to rig Bayelsa poll

    PDP alleges plot to rig Bayelsa poll

    The Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of planning to rig the December 5 governorship election.

    The party’s leadership said its allegations were based on the sudden transfers of the Department of State Security (DSS) State Director Baba Alhassan and Police Commissioner Paul Okafor.

    Bayelsa PDP Chairman Serena Dokubo-Spiff said Okafor’s transfer, which came shortly after Alhassan was removed a month to the election, raised questions about the motives for such actions.

    In a statement in Yenagoa, the state capital, Dokubo-Spiff condemned the transfers of the two security heads, saying the duo were “experienced and understood the terrain of the state so well”.

    The party chairman described their transfers as “unwise and curious” in the current circumstance in the state.

    He said: “The actions of the power that be in Abuja over these transfers really beg the issue. They are curious as they clearly give us the logical feelings to think twice about what could have been the reason for transferring the two main security heads in Bayelsa State about a month to the election.

    “We in the PDP believe that this is a calculated move by the APC-led Federal Government to use the security apparatus in the state to rig the election in favour of its candidate in the December 5 governorship election.”

    The PDP chairman alleged that since the transfers, there had been an influx of suspected criminals into the state, causing major threats to the security of life and property.

    He said the APC was acting in concert with the Federal Government to rig the poll.

    Dokubo-Spiff said: “Since the transfers of these two top flight officers, we have noticed the sudden influx and return of cultists, militants and other undesirable elements into the state, especially those who are already attacking and kidnapping innocent Bayelsans.

    “Security bases and posts are also being attacked with arms being carted away to create an arms base for the cultists preparatory to executing plans of rigging the elections.

    “Our findings also indicated that the APC was so obsessed with the rigging plan that it will inevitably involve violence and intimidation by various federal agencies, including security personnel, to rig the election.”

    The PDP chairman urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the alleged plan.

  • Setback for PDP, APC in Bayelsa

    Setback for PDP, APC in Bayelsa

    The death of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), who were expected to lead the campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State appear to have dealt a heavy blow to the strategy of the two parties as they prepare for the December 5 governorship election. Correspondent MIKE ODIEGWU examines the implication of these developments for the parties. 

    The December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State is critical to the future of the Southsouth state. There are defections from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The crisis that erupted, following the emergence of former Governor Timipre Sylva as the APC’s standard bearer, has further highlighted what many observers see as an epic battle between the two major parties. Sylva’s emergence has polarised the party. Its Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe, for instance, is insisting that, having helped Sylva to secure the flag of the party, he must be made his (Sylva’s) running mate.

    But, one factor that is likely to affect the election is the sudden death of former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd). Both of them occupied strategic positions in the campaigns of the PDP and the APC. Unfortunately, they died before the election.

    Alamieyeseigha is a great loss to Dickson and the PDP. Though the former governor was an asset to the entire Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region, especially considering the way he fought for resource control and other national interests of his people, he was particularly most needed by Dickson and his party at the time he passed on.

    There was no doubt that the PDP and Dickson were prepared to build their campaigns to retain Bayelsa around the personality of Alamieyeseigha. The reason was not far-fetched. Despite his travails, the former governor popularly called the governor-general of the Niger Delta, remained the most popular politician in the state.

    Alams, as he was also called, dwarfed incumbent political office holders at any public event he attended. He was always welcomed by his people with standing thunderous ovation. In the midst of former President Goodluck Jonathan and governor Dickson, people prefered to identify with and to hail Alams. He was not just popular, he had cult following reminiscent of President Muhammadu Buhari in the northern part of the country. His charismatic qualities and oratorical skills compelled people to pay attention to him each time he spoke in the public. He was no doubt a forceful and persuasive speaker.

    Dickson and PDP had intentions of harnessing the late Ijaw icon’s sterling leadership qualities and popularity to sell their camapign message to the people. In fact, Alams was supposed to lead the campaign. There was a general belief that people would have sympathy for any candidate supported by Alams.

    For Dickson, it was particularly a big blow, because Alams restored his hope in PDP, when the leaders of the party defected to the APC in droves. The decision of the former governor to remain in the PDP and to throw his weight behind the second term bid of Dickson encouraged the governor to pursue his ambition. Despite being the chairman of the PDP reconciliation committee, Alams was said to have publicly advocated continuity and advised other members with governorship ambitions to wait till 2020.

    Futhermore, Alams facilitated the reconciliation between Dickson and Jonathan’s family. He was said to have convinced Jonathan and Patience, his wife, to support Dickson after putting up a strong argument that allowing the APC to win Bayelsa would amount to disgracing Jonathan at home.

    That is why the demise of the former governor, fondly called the Olotu, hit the governor’s camp like a thunderbolt. It is an incalculable loss that may affect the fortunes of Dickson and the PDP in the election.

    Dickson described his death as a personal loss. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso Markson, Dickson said the government and people of Bayelsa would miss Alams.

    He pointed out that Alamieyeseigha was a strong pillar of support to the government. He stressed that his demise was a monumental loss to the entire Ijaw nation. He also commiserated with his wife, Margret, his immediate family, the Alamieyeseighas, the entire people of the state, noting that the Ijaw nation has lost a rare gem.

    The acting Paramount Ruler of Amasomma, the community of the late Alams, Chief Sharp Sogo, also expressed shock over the death of a man he said was like a god to the people.

    He said Alamieyeseigha had his last outing in the community when he came home with his political associates and community leaders to restrategise for the December 5 governorship election. He said the late former governor was a rallying point for the PDP, which relied on him to win elections.

    Against this background, the PDP seems to have started politicising the death of Alams. The party has tried to blame the APC for his death. The PDP wants the people to see the APC as the killer of their beloved leader and show Alams posthumous love by not voting for the party in the election.

    An aide to Dickson on Social Media, Mr. John Idumange, was the first to use the death of Alams as a campaign weapon. Shortly after the news of his death was confirmed, Idumange’s Facebook page was awash with messages inciting the people against the APC. He asked the people to use their tears to vote against the APC.

    Pan-Ijaw groups believed to be advancing the interest the PDP later reinforced Idumange’s sentiments. The groups said the APC should be held responsible for Alams’ death. They said the recent extradition notice issued by Britain on the former governor worsened his health condition and eventually led to his death.

    One of the groups, in the statement signed by Prof. Julius Eteli, said Alamayiesiegha’s death was curious, especially as he regularly received medical treatment abroad. Eteli added that the former governor had just returned from one of such trips in Dubai.

    He 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 U.K that must have triggered his health condition for the worse and the sudden death.”

    Eteli insisted that the APC government at the centre should be held responsible for the death of Alamayiesiegha, adding that the government instigated the British authorities to issue the extradition notice.

    Another pan-Ijaw group based in Ireland, Izon Diaspora Association (IDA), in its statement, also blamed the the APC for the death of Alamayiesiegha.

    The leader of the group, Mr. George Magbisa said: “Now that he has been taken out, we Ijaws must fight against this injustice. Now is the time to unite, come together and fight against this calculated and very deadly plot by the APC government to deplete our ranks.”

    But, the APC was simply amused by the efforts of the PDP to score cheap political points, with the demise of Alams. The APC accused the PDP of hypocrisy, recalling that a party which now claims to love Alams spearheaded his travails. The APC, however, warned the PDP against seeking political mileage with the death of Alams.

    The party said the PDP’s folly has been exposed against the backdrop of the fact that its chairman, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, was the chairman of the panel that investigated and indicted Alams over the allegations that led to his impeachment and conviction on corruption charges in 2005.

    The APC also recalled that those who danced at the exit of Alams and carried a mock casket against him are the same persons confessing love for him in the PDP. The party said the people are not naive and can recognise that what the PDP is doing is nothing but propaganda.

    The APC further blamed the sudden death of Alamieyeseigha on the negligence and incompetence on the part of leaders of the PDP. In a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Fortune Panebi, it said the PDP’s claims were laughable.

    He said Alamieyeseigha would not have died, if the PDP-led government had gone beyond noise-making and selfish politicking to provide health facilities. He said, despite the claims of the PDP-led government that it had spent billions of naira upgrading hospitals, none of the medical facilities could attend to the late former governor.

    Panebi said instead of handling Alamieyeseigha’s health with the seriousness it deserved, the PDP government allegedly gave the former governor a condition to publicly endorse its candidate before paying his medical bills. He said it was sad that unknown persons whom Alamieyeseigha brought to political limelight could abandon him in his moment of need.

    He said the PDP government in the state was good at dragging its feet whenever issues of assisting poor Bayelsans were involved. Panebi said the manner Alamieyeseigha’s health was handled exposed the many lies of the PDP. He added that if the party could treat an important personality in that manner, anybody could be a victim.

    He recalled that the Diete-Koki Hospital in Yenagoa was a world-class health facility when former Governor Timipre Sylva was in power. But, the Publicity Secretary lamented that the hospital has been abandoned by the government.

    The APC also lost its major campaign asset, with the sudden death of Col. Inokoba (retd). Inokoba, who hails from Odi, in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, was a grassroot politician and a symbol of the alleged injustices in the PDP. The former chairman made history when he abandoned a party he led for over three years and led over 1000 aggrieved members to defect to the APC.

    However, about 19 days after he moved to the APC, he passed on in controversial circumstances. He died as a governorship aspirant of the APC before Sylva emerged as the flag bearer. Like Alams, he was said to have died of cardiac arrest. Just like the PDP, the APC was also trying to build its campaign around Inokoba.

    Apart from being a respected elder, Inokoba was armed with the secrets of the PDP government. People would have believed whatever he said against the PDP; having chaired the party before leaving for the APC. Inokoba’s presence in any campaign rally of the APC would have been the killer punch the party needed to have an edge over the PDP.

    But death, as a leveller, has balanced the political battlefield in Bayelsa ahead of the election. As Alamieyeseigha could not live to deploy his goodwil in returning Dickson to the Creek Haven, Inokoba died without having the opportunity to help the APC in its campaign to unseat the PDP in the state.

  • We’re scared of election, say Bayelsa women

    Bayelsa women are scared. They are afraid of losing their husbands, children and relations at the forthcoming December 5 governorship election in the state. They do not want their state to be turned into a theatre of war, bloodshed and brigandage in the name of election.

    The fears are genuine. They watched with shock how a primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), an exercise that was supposed to be a family affair, snowballed into violence and led to shooting, beating, kicking and machete attacks.

    They looked helpless as youths advancing the course of their political benefactor in the APC stormed the party secretariat, pulled down billboards, tore posters and banners and caused tension in the Yeni-Zuegene area of Yenagoa; demanding that the state Chairman of the APC, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe, must be made the running mate of Chief Timipre Sylva.

    Besides, the women are terrified over controversies generated by the plan of a group of militants under the auspices of Mangrove Boys of Bayelsa (MBB) to lead a 10,000-man protest against Sylva.

    Despite how convincing MBB sounds on maintaining the peace during the protest, the women are nursing fears that such demonstration may lead to a bloody clash between Sylva’s men and the organisers.

    The Bayelsa women are yet to recover from the emotional trauma resulting from the war in their neighbouring Rivers State, where youths were mowed down in their prime and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed. It was an election, they recalled, that caused that sicken war.

    Such should not be their portion in the only Ijaw homogeneous state.

    What will the women do to stop looming electoral violence before, during and after the polls? They are pleading with security agencies to be at alert without compromising the rules of engagements. They are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to help them keep the peace of the state. The women have also started meeting to sensitise members of the public to the need for a violent-free polls.

    In the circumstances, therefore, women from various communities have unanimously decided to pool resources against all forms of electoral violence and intimidation ahead of the December 5 governorship election.

    They have gathered themselves under the umbrella of Women of Excellence (WE) coordinated by Mrs. Tari-Ere Gita to present a common front against violence. To this end, a seminar on electoral violence was held on Monday, October 12 at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.

    Making their positions known, Gita, alongside the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Amaemi Bekeyei-Alaki and the group’s Non-Indigene Coordinator, Alexis Sowunmi, they maintained that all parties to the election should adhere to the rules of engagement.

    Gita said: “In recent past, Bayelsa State was smeared by violence, killings, kidnappings, cultism; state machinery was used to sponsor terrorism with political opponents as targets. Perceived enemies of government were not left out. Many indigenes of Bayelsa went into exile in neighbouring states and far-flung places”.

    Gita, however, enjoined all the parties to pursue peace and political tolerance, insisting that the election must be held in an atmosphere of civility, law and order.

    She called on politicians to desist from heating up the polity. She also urged security agencies to ensure protection of lives and property before, during and after the election. She urged them to arrest and deal with anybody promoting violence in the state.

    “We call on President Buhari to direct all relevant security agencies to ensure that people of Bayelsa are spared the anguish of political violence and wanton destruction of lives and property.

    “Mr. President must not be seen to encourage or tactically support electoral violence, and must therefore take appropriate steps to ensure that the election is free and fair.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should ensure that the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State is held in accordance with the law and in line with international electoral best practices.

    “To our women, our aged citizens and the physically-challenged, we say come out and decide your future on December 5, this year. To our youths, we say shun violence,” she said.

    She said WE was established to promote political, economic and cultural dynamism inherent in every woman.

    Gita further said the association operates on the platform of unity of its members without prejudice to their educational and social status.

    She said the group advocates, among other things, women participation in governance, non-violence against women, strengthening of the home front, legislations, economic empowerment of women and peaceful co-existence.

  • Bayelsa teachers seek better working condition

    Bayelsa teachers seek better working condition

    The Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Walton Liverpool, stirred a controversy at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, during the celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day. The teachers disagreed on some of the things he reeled off as achievements of the state government to improve the educational system.

    •A cross section of teachers at the World Teachers’ Day in Bayelsa
    •A cross section of teachers at the World Teachers’ Day in Bayelsa

    In unison, the teachers who attended this year’s celebration with mixed feelings, shouted in protest when Liverpool, the chairman of the occasion, claimed that Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration had provided school uniforms to Bayelsa pupils; sank boreholes in schools to provide potable water; conducted regular seminars and workshops as well as provided free school buses.

    The way the teachers reacted angrily, almost booing Liverpool, it was obvious that the government was economical with the truth in those areas. But none of the teachers disagreed with the SUBEB boss when he mentioned the construction of headmasters’ and teachers’ quarters and building of office blocks in schools as some of the achievements of the government.

    Other achievements that the teachers seemed to have agreed with were supply of desks, seats to schools; the college of education at Sagbama; overseas scholarship  programmes for students and regular payment of teachers’ and other workers’ salaries.

    Again, Liverpool incurred the wrath of the teachers. He tried to rehash the solidarity statements of the union and ended by saying, “the struggle continues”. Unknown to him, Bayelsa teachers are now more upwardly mobile, more enlightened and better educated and have done away with aphorisms conveniently adopted by politicians to keep marginalising them.

    So, the idea that teachers’ struggles are unending was quite infuriating, as openly expressed by the audience. They resisted it and raised their voices in demonstration until the Principal Secretary, National Union of Teachers (NUT), who is also a lawyer, Comrade Okoroafor Okechukwu, spoke a more popular language to them. He calmed the frayed nerves when he said: “teachers struggle ends today”.

    But the struggles among Bayelsa teachers seem endless.

    The state Chairman, NUT, Comrade Bokolo Tonworio, listed plethora of demands of Bayelsa teachers. He said the primary and post-primary teachers are yet to be paid the N18, 000 minimum wage arrears which nearly all other public servants had been paid. He lamented non-implementation of 2013/2014 primary school teachers’ promotion and inability of the government to conduct 2015 promotion exercise for primary school teachers.

    It was all knocks on the government for failing to pay promotion arrears arising from 2013 promotions and non-supply of instructional materials and statutory school records in the spirit of the emergency in education.

    Part of his worries is also that there are discrepancies between the “oracle-captured” and “non-oracle-based teachers” in the payment of monthly salaries.

    Besides, funding of examination and continuous assessments across the schools and recruitment of teachers into rural schools are part of the headaches in the system.

    But the teachers are not ungrateful. They thanked the government for declaring a state of emergency in education sector and pursuing it vigorously.

    The NUT boss commended Dickson’s government for prompt payment of teachers’ salaries; massive rehabilitation of educational infrastructure; restoration of scholarships at the secondary school levels; establishment of befitting teachers training academy, Bolou-Orua, Sagbama and supply of computer sets and power generating sets.

    He said the theme of the celebration, “Empowering Teachers, Building Sustainable Societies”, was apt as it emphasised the significance of teachers and underscores their critical position in the society and nation-building.

    “The business of teachers’ empowerment is the duty of all the stakeholders in the community. The union calls on all stakeholders to place the empowerment of teachers in the front burner of their policies and agenda.

    “The government should see the teacher as a veritable tool and medium by which the philosophies, ethos, norms, ethics, ideas and aesthetics will be transferred to the future.

    “Therefore, disempowering teachers is tantamount to creating a future of powerless and feeble citizens that will further perpetuate the dependency of Nigeria to our erstwhile colonial masters and deepening of corruption and socio-economic malaise”, he said.

    In his remarks, Okechukwu said the day was set aside to honour and celebrate teachers because of their pivotal roles in the society.

    He said: “For us in Bayelsa, this day is almost like one’s birthday. It is a day to encourage and recognise practising teachers. When you honour the teacher, you are motivating him.

    “The government of Dickson has been steadfast in the funding of primary and secondary education. It has been consistent, especially in the payment of salaries. But all has not been too well for teachers because of the discrepancy between oracle-captured teachers and persons not yet captured.

    “I don’t know why the discrepancy should exist. It is either that all of them go digital or they go manual to create equal playing field among the teachers. We want this dichotomy dismantled. We suggest that every teacher should be captured in the oracle.

    “The government has done very well in physical infrastructure but has not done well in supply of instructional materials and statutory records to schools. It is an impediment to effective teaching and learning in schools.”

    At the event, Governor Dickson was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), who was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Talford Ongolo, Commissioner for Youths, Mr. Collins Cocodia and other members of the cabinet.

    But the governor later met with the teachers at the Banquet Hall where they feast. Dickson used the occasion to further reel off his achievements in the educational sector. He said his over N25 billion investments in the sector and the dedication of teachers yielded positive results.

    According to him, the state which used to be very poor in external examination was ranked 4th in the federation in the last Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, (SSSCE).

    He said the report released recently by the West African Examinations Council, (WAEC), named the six leading states as, Anambra 65.92 per cent, Abia 58.52 per cent, Edo 57.82 per cent, Bayelsa 52.83 per cent, Rivers 52.73 per cent and Enugu 51.91 per cent.

    He said: “The development necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in the sector and the government has invested N25 billion so far in the last three-and- half years to revamp the sector.”

    He enjoined the teachers to always do their utmost, stating that his administration will continually address their welfare as well as improve the infrastructure in the sector.

    Dickson, who praised teachers for their contributions to the growth and development of society, assured that in the next two weeks, the Teachers Training Academy would be inaugurated to train and re-train teachers to excel in their various professions.

    Describing the teaching profession as crucial in nation-building, the governor warned school principals against extortion of students under the guise of the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees. He further stressed that the government has been picking the bills for such fees to alleviate the plight of parents and wards.

    Responding, Okechukwu expressed gratitude to the state government for the prompt payment of salaries to workers, despite the austere times. He also praised government’s approval for the payment of arrears of N18, 000 minimum wages.

    He pledged the union’s total support for Dickson’s re-election bid to enable the restoration government to consolidate on its achievements.

     

  • Group calls for participatory democracy in Bayelsa

    Amb. Sokari Afiesimama, the President of Rescue Nigeria Mandate Mission (RENIM), a socio-political group, has called on the citizens of Bayelsa to ensure participatory democracy during and after Dec. 5 governorship election in the state.

    He said participatory democracy, in which all citizens would be actively involved in all important political decisions, would enhance the expected speedy socio-economic growth in the state.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, he said President Muhammadu Buhari had demonstrated the practice of participatory democracy by presenting credible Nigerians to serve as ministers.

    He also urged the APC political leaders in Bayelsa to ensure broad participation by mobilising the grassroots to win the governorship election.

    Afiesimama, who is also the National Publicity Secretary, Coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Group, said the coalition, in conjunction with RENIM, had prepared a proposal on youth and women empowerment.

    According to Afiesmama, the coalition will also propose special service scheme to the incoming state government to pay attention to pensioners’ issues.

    “In the proposal, RENIM recommends strengthening of the electoral process, paying attention to the plight of the down-trodden, emphasis on employment generation, security and focus on the Niger Delta region development, among others.

    “We believe that if Chief Timipre Sylva wins the election, he will approve and implement the proposal and it will validate the commitment and loyalty of the youth to him,’’ he said.

  • Alamieyeseigha was like god to us, says Bayelsa community

    Alamieyeseigha was like god to us, says Bayelsa community

    •PDP, APC mourn ‘Governor-General’ of Ijaw nation
    •Ijawdeclare seven-day mourning
    •Akpabio: we’ve lost a colossus in Niger Delta, Nigeria
    •Ex-governor was astute Ijaw leader, says Atiku
    •‘He was to be flown abroad for treatment’

    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.

     

    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.”

  • Ishaya’s brace nails Bayelsa Utd in Oghara

    Bayelsa United’s  hope of escaping relegation was dashed on Sunday when they suffered a 1-2 loss to Nasarawa United in a week 33 Glo Premier League match played at the Oghara Township Stadium on Sunday.

    Nasarawa United recorded only away win in the week 33 fixtures decided across the nation yesterday.

    Anyu Ishaya’s brace in the first half of the game gave the Solid Miners all the three points at stake in the match as Nasarawa United secured their second away win of the season.

    Nasarawa United goalkeeper Ibrahim Pius denied Bayelsa United the opportunity to take the lead in the match when goalkeeper Japhet Opubo’s spot kick was saved in the 25th minute. Minutes later, the Restoration Boys was punished for the penalty miss when Anyu Ishaya headed in at  close range to put the visitors ahead in the 28th minute.

    Eric Frimpong with a perfect timing jabbed home a cross from Bright Idoghor to restore parity at 1-1 in the 40th minute.

    Within minutes, Anyu Ishaya rose to the occasion again and silenced the home team by latching on to a defensive error to roll in a low ball into the net in the 42nd minute.

  • Alamieyeseigha: Ijaws declare 7-day mourning

    Alamieyeseigha: Ijaws declare 7-day mourning

    The umbrella organisation of Ijaw people, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Worldwide, has declared seven days of mourning, from Monday for the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who died last Saturday.

    During the period of mourning, the Ijaw nation’s flag would fly at half mast, according to INC’s President, Boma Obuoforibo, in a statement on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital,

    The umbrella organisation of Ijaw people also stated that with the death of the Governor-General of Izon (Ijaw) Nation (Amanieyeseigha), a great tragedy had befallen the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

    The INC’s statement reads: “The Ijaw nation was thrown into grief by the death of His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, the Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation, on Saturday, 10th October, 2015 at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, following a cardiac arrest.

    “On behalf of the INC Worldwide, we commensurate with his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha, the entire 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 Nation.

    “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 Monday, 12th October, 2015. During this period, the Ijaw Nation’s flag will fly at half mast.”

    The INC also indicated that the leadership of the organisation would liaise with the Alamieyeseigha’s family and the Bayelsa government, to plan a befitting burial for “our great leader and hero.”

    It will be recalled that the body of the former Bayelsa governor had been deposited at the morgue of UPTH.