JUBILATION AS CONVICTED ALAMIEYESIEGHA RETURNS

…QUITS POLITICS

Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha yesterday arrived the State capital, Yenagoa from Dubai enroute his hometown Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government area amidst thunderous announcing his decision to quit politics.

Alamieyesiegha, a former governor of Bayelsa state, had faced a 40-count charge of money laundering, illegal acquisition of property and false declaration of assets. He stood accused of embezzling millions of dollars from the state's treasury when he was governor from May 1999 to December 2005.

He entered into a plea bargain with the state-run anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, before he was eventually jailed for 12 years.

As a condition for his release, he forfeited, £100,000; £70,000; £50,000; £122,175;  £70,000; £198, 814,88; £120,000; £100,000; £100,000; £250,000; £99,985;  £81,985; £19,985; £136,157; £275,027 and £299,465.61 and several properties in Nigeria and overseas.

Alamieyesiegha arrived the Bayelsa State capital around 2.45pm aboard a chartered helicopter that landed at the State Government House Helipad. He met with the State Governor, Chief Timipreye Sylva behind close door before proceeding on the 45minutes journey to his hometown where a reception was held in his honor.

His arrival at the State Government House marked two years after he was arrested on the 16th of September 2005 at the State House "Creek Haven" by combined team of soldiers and Mobile Policemen after his impeachment over acases of fraudulent aquisition wealth and escape from the Custody of London Police over alleged Money Laundering. 

But his convoy that left the gate of the State Government House, made up of his black colored Prado jeep he rode in and other vehicles of individuals, groups and commercial drivers, caused a stretch traffic hold-up through the length of the Yengoa road with heavy security presence of Soldiers and Mobile Policemen having trouble having difficulty controlling them.

Alamieyeseigha’s arrival at the State Government Primary/Secondary School in Ammassoma, the venue of his reception, caused ecstatic jubilation among youths, women, traditional rulers and politicians at the venue. It took his vehicle about one hour to move through the jubilant crowd toward the high table where the Traditional Ruler of the Community, the Amanayowei of Amassoma, HRH Graham Naigba was waiting to receive him and his wife, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyesiegha.

When he came down from the vehicle, dressed in White Ijaw traditional attire with a black symbolic resources control cap, the crowd of women and children surged forward to catch a glimpse of the man openly referred to as the Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation.

Reacting to the reception extended to welcome him back, Alamieyesiegha said though he has not decided on what to do in the future, he would not be involve in politics at the State and national level but joined hands with people of like minds to develop the State.

He hinted the presence of crowd of supporters and well wishers has showed doubting thomasses that he is acceptable by his people,” To you, you have seen it. You have seen the level of acceptance”. He stated that he has decided to leave the detail of his experience in jail and outside it for another day.

On his future plans and opinion on the Niger Delta issues, He declined to comment on the volatile situation in the region but said”Well, politics is not one of my agenda now. I am glad I came back healthy to you people to develop the State and make things better.”.He however did not totally dismiss the possibility of going back to the University environment but on which capacity he did not state.

He said” The moment is what you can share with the people without loosing. The University is part of it. I build it( Niger Delta University ) for a purpose. If I go there to gain experience, so be it.”

Mrs. Margaret Alamieyesiegha, the Wife of the Former Governor, who sat quietly with loving smiles as the crowd of journalists and politician struggle to get the attention of his husband, said that she is the happiest of all present at the reception due to his husband acceptance by the people.