In a state-wide broadcast on Tuesday morning, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson  has said that the first civilian governor of the state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who died last Saturday at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, died because he was harassed and forced to abandon his medical care abroad.

 

The Governor Dickson condemned what he described as the propaganda and orchestrated harassment that led to the untimely death of the Governor-General, and called on the people of the state and Ijaw nation to maintain the peace, as they mourn their departed leader whom he described as a man of peace.

 

"To us as a people at this trying time, this sad incident should serve to unite us and to rededicate ourselves to the ideals that he stood for.

 

"We acknowledge the anger, disappointment and the sense of outrage felt by our people at home and in the diaspora, well-meaning Nigerians and others around the world for the way and manner he was harassed and forced to abandon his treatment abroad.

 

"However, this is not a time for recriminations and divisions but rather a time for sober reflections. I therefore call for all and sundry, particularly the youths to remain calm and maintain the peace as we mourn our departed leader," he stated.

 

The governor announced the postponement of the official flagging off of his re-election campaign earlier scheduled for Saturday in Yenagoa, in honour of Mr. Alamieyeseigha.

 

He also declared a seven-day mourning period during which all flags in public buildings and places would fly at half-mast. "The state government is determined to accord him a befitting state burial. In this regard, a high powered burial committee led by the Deputy Governor has been constituted. This committee will work out details of the programme with the family and other relevant stakeholders," he said.

 

While eulogising the former civilian governor, in his life time, apart from serving Nigeria as a military officer, also dedicated himself to the service of Bayelsa State and the entire Ijaw nation, both as governor and in other capacities.

 

"His selfless devotion and service to Bayelsa State and the entire Ijaw nation earned him the sobriquet, Governor-General of the Ijaw nation in his lifetime," he said.

 

It can be recalled that in an earlier statement, the state government said that Alamieyeseigha died after a long battle with kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

While family sources earlier said that the former governor’s health suddenly deteriorated after the U.K government requested his extradition to face charges years after Alamieyeseigha jumped bail and left London where he was arrested over alleged corruption.

 

Source: Premium Times