ALAMIEYESEIGHA’S DEATH AND IT'S DEVASTATING BLOW TO BAYELSA - Hon. Tei Zion Ebimotimi

Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha who was born 16th November 1952 died 10th October 2015, hailed from Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, “The Glory of All Lands.”

The spectacular thing about him was that, while growing up, there were confirmed mysteries surrounded him as positive omens convinced people he would be a child with bright destiny that would bring succor and respite to many people to live fulfilled life.

As he grew and went into life endeavors through schools, the military and other high and esteemed offices, culminated in as first civilian executive governor of Bayelsa State, duly sworn-in 29th May, 1999 under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party [PDP].

In these positions, he was known for one thing indelible was his generosity to people and established many contacts both low and high where he made them became useful to society in many respects through career employment, contracts and recommendations.
His position as governor elicited jubilation from both the hinterland and people resident in Yenagoa, capital city of Bayelsa State. Following his first statewide Radio and Television broadcast when he said, “We have arrived, as I am determined to give you infrastructural development, human empowerment, potable water, light, education etc, as priority”.

In his five years and eleven months as executive governor, both residents in Yenagoa and the state at large will testify the facts the burden he had to bear to make the people and land of Bayelsa State fulfilled.

One among many was the establishment of the Niger Delta University [NDU] Amassoma. At home and Diaspora graduates he made with the state money added colour to the peoples’ tradition and cultural heritage that made Bayelsans enviable and competitive with others outside.

Across ethnic nationalities, he became very vocal and authoritative in his national discourse. For instance, the Yourba/Ijaw ethnic crises in Lagos in 2000/2001, Itsekiri, Uhrobo/Ijaw ethnic clashes 2001/2002 in Warri in Delta State etc, he was the salvaging voice, intervened head long and last peace was achieved.

At the national front, he introduced “Resource Control” a concept that tremendously benefited the Izon Nation as he pushed the fight to a logical conclusion. This intensity in the fight for resource control suffocated Federal Government in a legal battle in the Supreme Court between 2001/2002 and the face-off however ended up in political settlement with 13 percent derivation in favour of the component oil producing Niger Delta States.

Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha also welcomed and embraced the concept “Forum of Elders” and “Founding Fathers” of Bayelsa State, the synergy with which these leaders and achievers in various works of life facilitated government public policy thrust that accelerated development and enhanced government and peoples’ relationship in Bayelsa State.

Also the creation of “Development Authority” aimed at accelerating rural development, career employment opportunities, empowerment etc as products of the collaboration. He also welcomed and encouraged the health policy “public health scheme” responsible to take care of Bayelsans suffering terminally related sickness to overseas hospitals with millions of naira, while internal medical bills were subsidized specifically for indigent Bayelsans.

On national event days, for instance, Democracy Day, May Day, Independence Day etc Government House became a beehive of activities, gates widely opened to public for all sort of celebrations.
Likewise political miscreants and trouble makers, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha opened dialogue opportunities, sent emissary of peace message and eventually integrated into the main stream of his government willing politicians and so on and so forth.

His support for subsequent government with his wealth of experience, willing people benefited immensely on the line of good and people oriented governance. He proved himself beyond reasonable doubt that he loved the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that snowballed him to be the governor of Bayelsa State; gave him unconditional political pardon by the former President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who was some years past was the most loyal deputy governor in Nigeria.

By all available indications the political pardon granted him, spurred him to do more in terms of contributions to the success of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across Nigeria. In 2014/2015, he exhausted his experience in the murky waters of politics and contacts to make former President Goodluck Jonathan win but the Northern caliphate politics of number, population and land mass in alliance with the South-West Oduduwa and Yoruba midnight politics believed to have torpedoed the electioneering process in favour of the northern caliphate.

Chief ALAMCO as he was fondly called, recuperated and redoubled his strategy, gave open support to the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] and Governor Seriake Dickson as if it was the last fight; like most great destined men, they would fight but will not see the end as he suddenly died 10th October 2015.
His sudden death forced a disgusting cold and surprise to government and people of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation which later became a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury, tantalized statements against the political front of Nigeria for politics of raison-deta’t.

But the man, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha who died while fighting for his political party to win elections in Bayelsa State, having confirmed the death, Iconia in National papers, Radio and Television flowed and raged everywhere far.
Some politicians who praised him said,

“He was a brave man; “Olotu of all Olutus”, “Voice of the Izon Nation”, “The Resource Control Iconic”, etc.  In one of the statewide broadcast by the Governor Seriake Dickson, he said: “Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha died in the process of working for his Party (PDP), his strong position and determination to win the governorship election sent a defeat threat to the political atmosphere. Particularly, “Myself I will not forget him for the rest of my life; I will do anything to immortalize this great hero of Izon nation. We missed you our great leader. May your soul rest in perfect peace,” he concluded.

May I respectfully draw our attention to the “night of service of songs” at the Gabriel Okara Multi-Cultural Centre and the burial ceremony proper, where more and so much elected statements were made as “Honour after Death,” but what follows after all these things, nothing much since after the land slide victory of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.

May be I should go straight to the point. The hero, government and people of Bayelsa so much loved and talked about is sobering tears in regret for all the dexterity he played during the governorship electioneering process at last merited him deliberate delay in re-opening his pet project as he used to call it, Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma.

In other States, heroes of this caliber are usually named after big government institutions and establishments, but Bayelsa ended up in only immortalizing this great hero as “Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall”. I think it is rather degrading.

Respectfully too, Government should try to do anything to appease the death hero as politicians, people of Bayelsa and Izon nation called him. The governor and government of Bayelsa State should do anything to re-open the Niger Delta University and name it after Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, the school being his loved and cherished most project and all he wants desperately.

All things being equal, there is no denying the fact, Government and people of Bayelsa and Izon nation loved the so much popularized late hero yet, I don’t want to think that nobody thinks and talks about his interest in death less than one year since his demise.

Oh death! Love, you are so wicked. Adieu, Governor-General of “The Izon Nation”.  My brother in-Law, I missed you.