Ibori reveals why Alamieyeseigha was murdered

Former governor of Delta state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has expressed his deep sorrow over the decease of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, uncovering those behind his death and praising his commitment to the people of the state, who reciprocated his love. 

In his farewell tribute message Mr Ibori wrote: “Governor General was persecuted and ‘murdered’ due to his stout and principled opposition and challenge of a burgeoning dictatorship, single tenure agenda, imposition of emergency rule in Plateau state and federal government’s political manipulation and interference in the troubled Niger Delta.

Even as I mourn, I find comfort in the love, admiration, reverence and even veneration that have gushed out for you from all parts of Bayelsa, the entire Ijaw nation, and beyond, despite the political persecution and orchestrated disinformation that culminated in the public hysteria against you. 

You rose like a phoenix from the ashes of political discontent and discord to bestride Bayelsa’s politics like a colossus. Your people’s love for you was displayed on your return from London in November 2005. The entire state was agog with joy, not because every Bayelsan agreed with your politics, but because most Bayelsans believed your travails were triggered by your commitment to their cause. 

Naturally, you had your ardent supporters as well as adversaries. Yet, you rode into Yenegoa triumphantly like the biblical Jesus entering Jerusalem.

That was a memorable day in Bayelsa’s history. Your enraged traducers sent a heavy deployment of troops to Government House, Yenegoa on a “kidnap or kill mission”. The rest is now history. How can we ever forget that part of our national history? DSP, the Ijaws and Niger Deltans salute you. 

We will honour you forever because we affirm you as our true leader who became a victim of political ‘witch-hunt’.” Former president Goodluck Jonathan also took to his Facebook page to express his sincere condolences to the family of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and recall his better times, as well as Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who has shared a series of photos of the event. 

Meanwhile, top dignitaries, including Goodluck Jonathan, the incumbent governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson, vice president John Jonah and others attended the funeral ceremony of the late ex-governor, who was popularly known as “Governor-General of Ijaw Nation”.