TheCable

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa state, is dead.

Esueme Dan-Kikili, Bayelsa state commissioner for information, confirmed this to Channels Television, saying he died of cardiac arrest at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, on Saturday.

The cardiac arrest was caused by complications from kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the commissioner.

Alamieyeseigha was reportedly rushed to the hospital two days ago after slipping into coma.

He was born on November 10, 1952.

The deceased, who retired from the air force, served as governor of Bayelsa between 1999 and 2005. Former President Goodluck Jonathan succeeded him following his impeachment.

Recently, there were reports that the British government was about to revisit his money laundering trial.

Alamieyeseigha had jumped bail, returned to Nigeria and refused to answer summons for the trial to continue.

Bayelsa State Governor Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has reacted to the sad news of the sudden death of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the first elected civilian Governor of the State, describing it as a personal loss to him, the Government and people of then State.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the chief press secretary to the governor of Bayelsa state, said Alamieyeseigha was a strong pillar of support to the government.

The state government also commiserated with his wife, Margret, his immediate family, the Alamieyeseighas, the entire people of the state, noting that the Ijaw nation has lost “a rare gem”.