
Pan-Ijaw groups have blamed All Progressives Congress (APC) of scaring former Governor of Bayelsa State, Dieprieye Alamieyeseigha to his early grave yesterday, with the report of his expected extradition to the U.K to face money laundering charges.
In their separate statements made available to the media today, the groups said that the recent extradition notice purportedly issued by Britain on the former governor aggravated his health condition and his eventual death.
The Ijaw Heritage and Cultural Club based in the United States, in its statement said that it was shocked beyond words by the news of the sudden death of Alamieyeseigha and regretted the circumstances surrounding it.
It noted in the statement signed by Professor Julius Eteli that Alamieyeseigha’s death was curious given the fact that he regularly received medical treatment abroad, adding he had actually just returned from such medical trip in Dubai believed to have been facilitated by the Bayelsa State Government.
“From available reports, the Bayelsa State Government has always been of assistance to him, taking care of his medical bills and upkeep. The question is: how can a man who had just returned from Dubai having been attended to by experts die so suddenly? Clearly, it must have been the report of his extradition to the U.K that must have triggered his health condition for the worse and the sudden death.”
It said that APC government should be held responsible for the death of Alamieyeseigha even as it claimed that the alleged extradition notice was targeted at witch-hunting the late former governor.
The group asked: “Why wait all these years until now to issue such a notice?”
Another pan-Ijaw group based in Ireland, Izon Diaspora Association, in its statement also condemned the demise of Alamieyeseigha, which it said was caused by the APC government for political reasons.
The group said the sad development was a calculated move by the ruling APC government to silence the Ijaw movement, knowing fully well that Alamieyeseigha represented the soul and moving spirit of the Ijaw movement.
“Now that he has been taken out, we Ijaws must fight against this injustice. Now is the time to unite, come together and fight against this calculated and very deadly plot by the APC government to deplete our ranks,” the Convener and leader of the group, Comrade George Magbisa, stated.
Magbisa was full of praises for the Bayelsa State Government for standing by the late Ijaw leader all through, saying that only a committed Ijaw governor like Seriake Dickson, himself a leading figure in the Ijaw struggle, could have been so supportive as he did to the former governor.
The group extended its condolences to the governor, the government and people of Bayelsa State over the death of the respected governor-general of the Ijaw nation. [myad]