Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha

• Ijaw nation mourns
• The Governor General is Gone- Ben Bruce
• His Death is a personal loss to me – Gov Dickson

The Former Bayelsa governor, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha has died at the age of 63, after slipping into coma on Thursday, 8 October, 2015, and was placed on life support at the University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.
The former governor was born on November 16, 1952 in Amassoma, Ogboin North Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
He attended the Bishop Dimeari Grammar School, Yenagoa. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as a Cadet Officer in 1974, then joined the Nigerian Air Force, where he served in the department of Logistics and Supply.
He held various air force positions in Enugu, Markurdi, Kaduna and Ikeja. Alamieyeseigha retired from the air force in 1992 as a Squadron Leader.
After leaving the air force he became the Sole Administrator of Pabod Supplies Port Harcourt. Later he became Head of Budget, Planning, Research and Development of the National Fertiliser Company (NAFCON).
Recently, the British Government had determined to resurrect an outstanding case of money laundering against the former governor and had requested for his extradition to London.
Alamieyeseigha, who was facing money laundering charges, jumped bail and returned to Nigeria and has since then refused to answer summons for trial to continue,.
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was impeached on allegations of corruption on 9 December 2005.
Ijaw nation mourns Alamieyeseigha
‎Amassoma, Alamieyeseigha hometown and the entire Ijaw nation had been thrown into mourning over the demise of the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
His death was the subject of discussion across the length and breadth of the land.
Former National Youth Leader of the Alliance Congress of Nigeria ACN, Comrade Ebikibina Miriki described the demise of the first civilain governor of Bayelsa State as a big blow to the Ijaw nation.
He said, “The death of Chief Alamieyeseigha at this critical moment of building a virile and Restoration state is sad, painful and a great loss not only to the state, people and communities in the Southern ljaw LGA, but to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a nation.
“No doubt, late Alamieyeseigha, is a truly a proud ljaw man, who stood for the truth, defend the rights of his people and the down trodden, fearless, down to earth and have a lion heart to accommodate all, despite the conspiracy and betrayal of many who conspired with the federal might, to silence his rising political profile. Bayelsa had lost a rare gem and a true ljaw son.”
The Governor General is Gone- Ben Bruce
For the Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial district, Ben Bruce, in his tribute, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha was the Governor General.
Read his tribute below:
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, who has just passed on.
I also want to condole with the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Henry Dickson, as well as the good people of Bayelsa on the loss of this worthy son of the Ijaw nation.
Chief Alamieyeseigha was a bridge builder who succeeded in uniting the Ijaw nation, an achievement that earned him the title Governor General of the Ijaw nation.
Even after leaving office as Governor, DSP was of great service to Nigeria in his courageous efforts to end the Niger Delta militancy at great risk to his personal safety.
Chief Alamieyeseigha also made inroads to other parts of the nation in order to build unity and compromise which are always needed in Nigeria.
He was a great man and may his soul rest in peace.
His Death is a personal loss to me – Gov. Dickson
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has reacted to the sad news of the death of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the first elected civilian Governor of the State, describing it as a personal loss to him, the government and people of then State.
An initial Government House statement, pointed out that, Chief Alamieyeseigha was a strong pillar of support to the restoration government, stressing that, his demise is a very painful and monumental loss to the entire Ijaw nation, which he has always stood firm for in all its ramifications.
The Bayelsa State government also commiserated with his wife, Margret, his immediate family, the Alamieyeseighas, the entire people of the state, noting that, the Ijaw nation has lost a rare gem.
It stated that, a more detailed reaction will be coming from the Bayelsa State Government in due course, the statement reads.