Prominent Niger Delta leaders, including Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, have hailed the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as a symbol of the region’s unyielding fight for true federalism, justice, and resource control.
They spoke in Yenagoa during the 10th Memorial Anniversary of the former Bayelsa governor, on Friday themed “The Niger Delta Voice Through Nigeria’s Soul: Federalism, Resource Control and the Contemporary Nigerian State in the DSP Alamieyeseigha Legacies.”
Governor Diri described Nigeria’s current federal system as flawed, stressing that genuine development can only be achieved when states have full control over their resources. “If we want this country to move forward, sub-national governments should not be controlled from the centre,” he stated. “You cannot use resources from one region to develop another while starving the producing area. That is not federalism.”
He also criticized the Land Use Act, describing it as unjust and detrimental to the Niger Delta’s economic autonomy, and urged the Federal Government to address the imbalance.
Diri praised Alamieyeseigha’s legacy, saying his vision transcended the Ijaw nation and represented a national call for equity and development. He urged Niger Delta leaders to unite beyond party lines, warning that disunity only strengthens forces that seek to exploit the region.
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In his tribute, Chief Ibori described Alamieyeseigha as a fearless defender of his people who endured persecution for speaking truth to power.
Keynote speaker, Prof. Ibaba S. Ibaba, added that Alamieyeseigha’s leadership marked a defining moment in the Niger Delta’s struggle, giving voice to the region’s demand for justice, dignity, and true federalism.
