By  Samuel Oyadongha & Davies Iheamnachor

Yenagoa—Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, yesterday, announced the postponement of the flag-off of his governorship campaign slated for October 17, in honour of the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who died last Saturday.

The governor also faulted the controversy surrounding Alamieyeseigha’s death and called on the people of the Ijaw nation at home and in the diaspora, to maintain law and order, disclosing that a high powered burial committee, led by the deputy governor, had been constituted.

Dickson, in a special state-wide broadcast in Yenagoa, noted that though the country, and particularly the Ijaw nation, had lost a foremost statesman and leader, the state government was determined to give the former governor a befitting state burial.

He said: “The state government is determined to accord him a befitting state burial. In this regard, a high powered burial committee, led by the deputy governor has been constituted. This committee will work out details of the programme with the family and other relevant stakeholders.”

Eulogizing the former governor, Dickson said: “Chief Alamieyeseigha, in his life time, apart from serving our nation as a military officer, also dedicated himself to passionate and committed service to Bayelsa State and the entire Ijaw nation, both as governor and in other capacities. His selfless devotion and service to Bayelsa State and the entire Ijaw nation earned him the sobriquet, Governor-General of the ijaw nation in his lifetime.”

Meanwhile, the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, visited the Port Harcourt home of the late Alamieyeseigha and lamented that the ex-governor died at the time when the people of the state needed his fatherly role most.

Mrs. Jonathan described the death as shocking, painful and heart rending, adding that the family and the state will miss him dearly.

In her condolence message to the bereaved family, Mrs. Jonathan  said “daddy, on-behalf of my husband, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, our entire family members, we mourn you so dearly. We are in shock and our hearts are full of pains, though, we cannot question God. We are saying goodbye, may your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”