Niger Delta leaders hail late Alamieyeseigha as champion of justice, resource control

Prominent Niger Delta leaders, including Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, and former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, have paid tribute to the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, describing him as a champion of justice, true federalism, and resource control.

They made this remark at the 10th memorial anniversary in honour of Alamieyeseigha on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

They said Chief Alamieyeseigha, who was the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State, represented the voice of the Niger Delta people and that his legacies would continually inspire generations in the quest for justice, fairness and development.

The event, themed “The Niger Delta Voice Through Nigeria’s Soul: Federalism, Resource Control and The Contemporary Nigerian State in The DSP Alamieyeseigha Legacies,” featured discussions on the need for true federalism and resource control in Nigeria.

Governor Diri emphasised that Nigeria’s progress depends on practicing a federal system of government where sub-national units enjoy relative autonomy guaranteed by the Constitution.
He described as an aberration the situation where Nigeria, which ought to be operating federalism, controlled the resources of the sub-nationals thereby shortchanging them of their God-given wealth.

Diri averred that if Nigeria operated a federalist structure, agitations from minority ethnic nationalities would largely be reduced.

He said,“If we want this country to move forward, the sub-national governments should not be controlled from the centre.

”If we want this country to develop, you cannot use the resources from one region to create more local government areas in another region in order to feed that region and then starve the area where these resources are coming from. That is not federalism.

“The Niger Delta people have been robbed through the Land Use Act and we stand against it anywhere and anytime. Nigeria needs to correct these anomalies.

According to him, Alamieyeseigha’s advocacy for resource control, justice and environmental rights was not only for the Niger Delta people but for the progress of the country.

He urged the Niger Delta people to be united and build a common front in the fight for resource control and not allow party politics and personal interests get in the way of their collective struggle.

Gôvernor Diri emphasised the need to utilise intellectual and diplomatic means in their quest to achieve justice, fairness and bring about the much needed development of the region.

He stressed the need for the Niger Delta people to be united and build a common front in the fight for resource control, without allowing party politics and personal interests to get in the way.

On his part, Chief James Ibori described Alamieyeseigha as his bosom friend and a fearless defender of his people.

He claimed that the “bullet” that took Alamieyeseigha’s life was fabricated, encouraged, and delivered by the Nigerian State.

Ibori expressed satisfaction that Alamieyeseigha’s legacy continued to live on.
He, however, expressed satisfaction that what his departed comrade stood and advocated for has continued to live on and would not die.

Ibori, appreciated Diri for strengthening Alamieyeseigha’s legacies and the Ijaw struggle through the annual memorial anniversary by the state government

The keynote speaker, Professor Ibaba S. Ibaba, noted that Alamieyeseigha’s emergence as Bayelsa Governor marked a defining moment in the Ijaw and Niger Delta struggle for equity and justice.

He emphasised that federalism for Alamieyeseigha and the people of the Niger Delta was meaningful only if it guaranteed control over resources for development, dignity, and survival.

Ibaba, described the Niger Delta as an embodiment of Nigeria’s paradox of wealth amid pervasive poverty and underdevelopment, which he noted led to the famous Kaiama Declaration and the Ogoni Bill of Rights.

He stressed that the late hero, in his speeches and actions, took the Niger Delta agitation into the heart of the national debate, placing Bayelsa and the region firmly on Nigeria’s national map of political reckoning.

According to him, federalism for Alamieyeseigha and people of the Niger Delta was meaningful only if it guaranteed control over resources for development, dignity, and survival.

The event featured a panel of discussants and dignitaries, including environmental rights activist Annkio Briggs, Ijaw activist Elder Timi Ogoriba, and former House of Reps member Professor Steve Azaiki.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the struggle for resource control and true federalism in Nigeria.

Dignitaries present included the Bayelsa deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the immediate past deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd), wife of the late governor, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha, National Chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Amb. Boladei Igali, and President of the Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba.