Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr Kingsley Otuaro (left) and Governor of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, during a condolence visit on the Governor over the death of his mother, Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson, by members of Delta Ijaw Political Assembly, DIPA, led by Otuaro in his country home, Otoru Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, Tuesday, led Delta Ijaw Political Assembly, DIPA, to condole Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, over death of his mother, Mama Goldcoast Dickson, at Toru-Orua, Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa State.

Otuaro who noted that Dickson was not just governor of Bayelsa State but of the larger Ijaw nation said: “DIPA received with rude shock news of the death of Mama Dickson: I pray Almighty God to grant you and the entire family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“The reported last comments of Mama Dickson that she saw angelic beings heralding her to glory obviously described the glorious destination of a life dedicated to service of God and humanity which themselves were attributes for emulation by succeeding generations.”

Otuaro informed Dickson that DIPA had planned to visit him as “Governor of the Ijaw nation” to discuss the way forward for the Ijaw nation in 2019, before they got news of his mother’s death and assured that DIPA would make a formidable a presence at the yet to be announced burial ceremony schedule.

With Otuaro in the condolence visit were the chairman of DIPA, Mr J. T. Government, Senator James Manager, Hon. Julius Pondi, Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba, Hon Tam Brisibe, Hon. Solomon Funkekeme, Chief Bosin Ebikeme, Chief Frank Omare, Hon. William Angadi, Hon. Newworld Safugha, Hon Tonye Timi, Hon. Dan Yingi, Hon. P.C. Embelegha,  Hon. Boro Opudu, Hon. Mike Seikegba, Dr Felix Tuodolo, GodBless Omoniyi amongst others.

In his reaction, Governor Dickson appreciated DIPA for theirvisit, saying he was proud that people from Delta, the home state of his mother, came in their numbers to commiserate with him. He said Delta Ijaw traditional rulers had visited him shortly before DIPA to which he is traditionally a member. He solicited conveyance through DIPA of his appreciation to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over concern and promise of support in any way to his mother’s burial, explaining that Okowa is “my Governor as I’m also a Deltan by virtue of my mother being a Deltan.”

Agreeing with Otuaro on the appellation as “Governor of the Ijaw nation,” Governor Dickson reiterated his usual description of Bayelsa as “the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation. Any Ijaw man anywhere can become anything in Bayelsa State.”

Lamenting that he did all he could to save the life of his mother who should have lived more than 72 years, Governor Dickson said: “We can’t question God and as the Bible admonished, in all things, let us thank God”.

Disclosing that his mother died of cancer, the Bayelsa Governor said a Cancer Centre in his mother’s name will be built from private donations to the Seriake Foundation to fight the scourge of cancer which he quoted reports as saying was  more prevalent in the Niger Delta.