The Bayelsa State Government on Friday paid glowing tributes to its first civilian governor, the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, describing him as a courageous advocate of true federalism, justice, and resource control whose legacy continues to shape the Niger Delta’s struggle for equity.
Speaking at the 10th Memorial Anniversary of the late governor in Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri said Alamieyeseigha’s vision for a fair and balanced Nigeria remained relevant, especially in ongoing calls for restructuring and greater autonomy for states.
The memorial, themed “The Niger Delta Voice Through Nigeria’s Soul: Federalism, Resource Control and The Contemporary Nigerian State in the DSP Alamieyeseigha Legacies,” attracted dignitaries including former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, political scholars, and Niger Delta activists.
Governor Diri described the late Alamieyeseigha as “a voice of justice for the Niger Delta,” noting that his advocacy for resource control and environmental rights placed the region’s demands at the heart of Nigeria’s federal debate.
“If we want this country to move forward, the sub-national governments should not be controlled from the centre,” Diri said.
“You cannot use the resources from one region to create more local government areas in another and then starve the area producing the wealth. That is not federalism.”
Diri also condemned the continued implementation of the Land Use Act, which he said deprives Niger Delta communities of rightful ownership of their land and resources. He called for regional unity to pursue equity through diplomacy, intellect, and solidarity.
“The Niger Delta people have been robbed through the Land Use Act, and we stand against it anywhere and anytime,” the governor added.
“We have allowed party politics to divide us, and that’s part of the politics of oil and gas meant to keep us apart.”
In his tribute, Chief James Ibori described Alamieyeseigha as “a fearless defender of his people” and “a patriot whose political persecution mirrored the injustices he fought against.”
“His political downfall was fabricated, encouraged, and delivered by the Nigerian state,” Ibori declared, likening Alamieyeseigha’s struggle to that of Martin Luther King Jr. “He lived and died for the dignity of the Niger Delta.”
He praised Governor Diri for institutionalizing the annual memorial and keeping Alamieyeseigha’s legacy alive as part of the broader Ijaw struggle for justice and self-determination.
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Delivering the keynote lecture, Professor Ibaba S. Ibaba of Niger Delta University said Alamieyeseigha’s tenure marked a turning point in Nigeria’s resource control movement, noting that he mainstreamed the Niger Delta question into national consciousness.
“For Alamieyeseigha, federalism was meaningful only when it guaranteed control over resources for development, dignity, and survival,” Prof. Ibaba said.
The event, moderated by broadcast journalist Dr. Reuben Abati, featured a panel discussion with environmental activist Annkio Briggs, Ijaw leader Elder Timi Ogoriba, and former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Steve Azaiki.
Notable attendees included Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; former Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd); the late governor’s widow, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha; PANDEF Chairman, Ambassador Boladei Igali; and President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, among others.
The memorial was marked by tributes, cultural performances, and renewed calls for true federalism and resource justice in Nigeria — ideals that Alamieyeseigha championed throughout his lifetime.