The emotional part of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan came to the fore on Friday when he visited the family of late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in Opolo, Yenagoa.
Dr. Jonathan who was almost breaking down in tears, in a voice laden with emotion said he remains indebted to the man referred to as the Governor General of the Ijaw Nation as no one could have known him if not for the role played by Chief Alamieyeseigha in his life.
“It is sad. I directly worked as a deputy governor to Alamieyeseigha. I knew Alamieyeseigha during the UNCP days when we were working for him.
“I never knew I was going to be his deputy because that was not my interest then. From that time, the political evolution in the country and the state brought me to work with him.
“And from 1999, we have been together. He always took me as his younger brother. Our relationship was not that of a governor and a deputy but it was that of a younger brother and an elder brother.” Dr. Jonathan said.
The first executive governor of Bayelsa state died on Saturday from heart attack. The blame for hisv death has been laid at the feet of the federal government who is accused of terrorising and harassing Chief Alamieyeseigha with threats of arrest and repatriation to the UK to face money laundering charges.
Late Chief Alamieyeseigha was in 2005 arrested in London over allegations of money laundering but he escaped, and alleged to have returned to Nigeria dressed like a woman.
