President, Atiku mourn Alamieyeseigha

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described the death of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as a loss to the state and the Ijaw people at large.

In a condolence message signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President called on the Ijaw people of Nigeria to take heart over the loss of one of their notable indigenes.

The statement said: “Former Governor Alamieyeseigha was well loved by his people. This love was expressed in the way they supported him through his time in public office, and also in the way they stood by him after he left office, in good times as in bad.”

Buhari expressed sympathies with the family of the late governor, asking them to take the loss as God’s will.

Also, former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, has described Alamieyeseigha, as an astute politician who firmly protected the interest of the Ijaw people.

In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, Atiku said news of the death came to him as a rude shock.

The Turaki Adamawa eulogised the late Alamieyeseigha for being a worthy ambassador of the Ijaw nation, and for contributing his quota to the service of the nation and the development of democratic governance in the country.

“No one can dispute the fact that the late Governor General of the Ijaw nation, as he was fondly called, stood firm like a rock in preserving the interest of the Ijaw people is, and was a strong supporter of democratic governance in Nigeria.

“The news of the demise of Alamieyeseigha came to me as with many Nigerians as a rude shock. He was a true leader of the Ijaw people, and also contributed his own quota in the development of Bayelsa State when he was governor of the state.’’

“I recall with fond memories the deep appreciation which the late Alamieyeseigha had for democratic governance in Nigeria.”