Niger-Delta Governors Shun Alamieyeseigha's

Defying a downpour which lasted several hours on
Saturday, thousands of ordinary people of Bayelsa state
marched out to pay their last respects to the late ex-
governor of the state, Mr Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
Curiously, none of the governors of all the nine Niger
Delta states, the oil-producing area, for which cause the
late politician became popular, was present at the
ceremony, except the governor of Imo State, Mr Rochas
Okorocha.
Apart from Okorocha, whose arrival elicited a loud
ovation, governors of the region who were absent at the
occasion were the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike;
Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Cross River
Governor, Prof Ben Ayade.
Other governors who neither attended nor had any
representative at the event were Adams Oshiomhole of
Edo State ; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia; his Akwa Ibom
counterpart, Udom Emmanuel and Olusegun Mimiko of
Ondo State.
Perhaps, to also underline the sharp political division in
the state, neither ex-governor Timipre Sylva nor Timi
Alaibe, a former Niger Delta Development Commission
Managing Director, who was prevailed upon to step
down for Sylva during last year’s primary election of the
All Progressives Congress, were present.
The deceased, who as governor championed the
‘resource control’ battle against former President
Olusegun Obasanjo was also called the Governor-
General of the region for his role in the implementation
of the 13 per cent derivation.
Alamieyeseigha was buried in a prepared tomb in his
compound at Amassoma, Southern Ijaw local
government yesterday afternoon after he was eulogised
by those present at the ceremony, including the Acting
Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Mr Ali Modu
Sheriff, Mr Jolly Nyame, a former governor of Taraba
State and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan of Bayelsa
state marched out to pay their last respects in honour
of the late ex-governor of the state, Mr Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha.
Curiously, none of the governors of all the nine Niger
Delta states, the oil-producing area, for which cause the
late politician became popular, was present at the
ceremony, except the governor of Imo State, Mr Rochas
Okorocha.
Apart from Okorocha, whose arrival elicited a loud
ovation, governors of the region who were absent at the
occasion were the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike;
Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Cross River
Governor, Prof Ben Ayade.
Other governors who neither attended nor had any
representative at the event were
Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State ; Okezie Ikpeazu of
Abia; his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Udom Emmanuel and
Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.
Perhaps, to also underline the sharp political division in
the state, neither ex-governor Timipre Sylva nor Timi
Alaibe, a former Niger Delta Development Commission
Managing Director, who was prevailed upon to step
down for Sylva during last year’s primary election of the
All Progressives Congress, were present.
The deceased, who as governor championed the
‘resource control’ battle against former President
Olusegun Obasanjo was also called the Governor-
General of the region for his role in the implementation
of the 13 per cent derivation.
Alamieyeseigha was buried in a prepared tomb in his
compound at Amassoma, Southern Ijaw local
government yesterday afternoon after he was eulogised
by those present at the ceremony, including the Acting
Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Mr Ali Modu
Sheriff, Mr Jolly Nyame, a former governor of Taraba
State and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.