Eleven years ago, we lost a great son of the Niger Delta, a remarkable leader, and a dear friend and brother, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa State.
Today, as I remember him, my heart is filled with nostalgia, respect, and a deep sense of loss. His passing on 10th October 2015, marked the end of an important chapter in the political history of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw people. Yet, eleven years after his departure, his dreams, his struggles, and his unwavering commitment to his people remain worthy of remembrance.
Death may have taken him away from us, but it cannot erase the place he occupies in our hearts and in the history of the Niger Delta.
As his friend and brother, I knew Chief Alamieyeseigha as a good man whose intentions and aspirations were, in my view, often misunderstood by those in positions of higher authority during his time. He was a man with a vision for his people and a determination to give Bayelsa State a place of honour in Nigeria.
As the first civilian governor of this oil rich State, he carried the enormous responsibility of laying the foundation for its political, economic, educational, and social development. He wanted his people to rise to enviable positions, not only within Bayelsa State but also on the national stage. His dream was bigger than the immediate challenges of governance. He wanted a people who could stand tall, command respect, and participate meaningfully in shaping the destiny of Nigeria.
One of the most remarkable aspects of his vision was his understanding of Ijaw unity. To Chief Alamieyeseigha, Yenagoa was destined to become a Jerusalem for the Ijaw people, a spiritual, cultural, intellectual, and political centre that would unite Ijaws from the coastline of Ondo State through the Niger Delta to Akwa Ibom State. He did not believe that the geographical boundaries created by the Nigerian federation should divide a people bound together by ancestry, language, culture, and history. He saw the Ijaw nation as one indivisible family, irrespective of the State in which its people lived. His vision challenged Ijaws to look beyond State boundaries and political differences to embrace the greater possibilities of collective strength. That dream remains relevant today, perhaps more than ever before.
His educational vision also reflected this broad outlook. Rather than naming the institution he established Bayelsa State University as recommended by a committee he had set up for the purpose of naming the institution among other terms of reference, he opted for the name Niger Delta University because he wanted the institution to represent a wider aspiration. He believed that a university established in Bayelsa should not be seen merely as a State institution but as a symbol of opportunity for the entire Niger Delta, particularly the South South region. This decision revealed the breadth of his thinking and his desire to build institutions whose relevance would extend beyond the boundaries of Bayelsa State. He understood that education was a powerful instrument for human development, regional integration, and the empowerment of future generations. In his vision, Bayelsa was not an isolated territory but an important centre from which the wider Niger Delta could benefit.
Perhaps one of the most enduring lessons of Chief Alamieyeseigha’s life was his capacity to forgive. He endured political humiliation, controversy, and circumstances that many would have found difficult to overcome. Among the episodes that wounded his dignity was the infamous incident in which he was purported to have disguised as a woman to escape from justice, during his ordeal in the United Kingdom. At that time, artificial intelligence as we know it today was not part of our everyday vocabulary; the episode involved a purported disguise that became a source of public ridicule. Yet, what stands out in my remembrance of him was his willingness to forgive, not only those who created the mythical woman, but also those he believed had plotted his political downfall. He forgave as many people as he could identify, who had wronged him. Forgiveness is not an admission of weakness. It is a demonstration of strength, maturity, and freedom from the burden of bitterness. In this respect, he left us a lesson that political disagreements should never destroy our humanity or make reconciliation impossible.
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Today, eleven years after his passing, I appeal to all Ijaw people, at home and in the diaspora, to embrace unity and rediscover the collective purpose that Chief Alamieyeseigha championed. The Ijaw nation must rise above divisions arising from politics, geography, personal rivalries, and differences of opinion. No single community or State can fulfil the aspirations of the Ijaw nation in isolation. The strength of Ijaw lies in shared heritage, common interests, and determination to secure a better future for Ijaw children. Bridges must be built where divisions exist, young people encouraged to pursue education and leadership, and work together for the development of Ijaw communities. If truly Chief Alamieyeseigha is to be honoured, the honour must go beyond celebrating his memory to embrace advancing vision of unity, dignity, and collective progress which he stood for.
Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha was truly an Ijaw man to the very end of his earthly journey. He believed in his people, identified with their struggles, and dreamt of a future in which the Ijaw nation would occupy its rightful place in Nigeria.
As I remember my friend and brother eleven years after his departure, I pray that God will continue to comfort his family, especially his wife who stood firmly by him. May the good memories of his life remain preserved, and his soul continue to rest in eternal peace.
May history judge him with fairness, taking account of his aspirations, his contributions, his struggles, and his humanity. May the Ijaw people find the wisdom to unite and turn his dreams into living reality.
Continue to rest in peace, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha.
Your friend and brother remembers you with respect, affection, and gratitude.
…..
Senator Ehigie Uzamere
Bina Tarowei of Ogboin Kingdom,
Amassoma, Bayelsa State.