Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has postponed the flag-off of his governorship campaign earlier scheduled for this Saturday to allow Bayelsans and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members mourn former governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who died last Saturday.

Dickson, who stated this in a special broadcast to the state, noted that though the country and particularly the Ijaw nation had lost a foremost statesman and leader, the state government was determined to give the deceased a befitting state burial.

He, however, condemned the controversies surrounding his death and called on the peace-loving people of Ijaw nation at home and in the diaspora to maintain law and order.

“The state government is determined to accord him a befitting state burial. In this regard, a high-powered burial committee, led by the deputy governor, has been constituted. This committee will work out details of the programme with the family and other relevant stakeholders. His selfless devotion and service to Bayelsa State and the entire Ijaw nation earned him the sobriquet, Governor-General of the Ijaw nation in his lifetime,” the governor said.

In a related development, former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has commiserated with the family of former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who died on Saturday, at the University of Port Harcourt.

Dame Jonathan, who visited the family at their residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, expressed shocked and pain over Alamieyeseigha’s sudden demise.

This was her second appearance in public, after she visited the Awolowo family in Ikene, Ogun State when their matriarch, Chief Dideolu Awolowo died.

She arrived at the home of the Alamieyeseigha’s at exactly 2:25 p.m. and walked straight to where the deceased’s widow, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha sat, with other sympathisers. Her visit lasted till 5.10pm.

Her tribute contained in the condolence register read: “Daddy, on behalf of my husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan and the entire family members, we mourn you so dearly.

“We are in shock and our hearts are full of pain. Though we cannot question God, we are saying goodbye. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, Tari Okosi said they were yet to overcome the shock, describing the visit of the First Lady as encouraging and overwhelming.

“We are still in shock. For now, we have not believed he is gone. Every time, we look at the gate and look at his room to see when he will come in. As a matter of fact, it was overwhelming when we saw the First Lady here. She is part of the family.”