Governor
Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has revealed the real cause of death
of the first civilian governor of the state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson
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
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