By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
The Senate, yesterday, mourned the demise of former governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, who passed away almost two weeks ago.
Alamieyeseigha, who was alleged to have died of cardiac arrest, was described by the senate as a generous and loving man, whose death was not only a loss to Bayelsa state, but the Izon people, the South South geopolitical zone in particular.
The upper chamber also during plenary yesterday sent an eight-man delegation, led by Senator Francis Alimikhena, PDP, Edo North, to condole the family of the deceased, people and government of Bayelsa state.
The decision to so do was reached following consideration of a motion, sponsored by Senator Forster Ogola, PDP, Bayelsa West, titled: “Demise of Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha” and co-sponsored by 17 other senators.
Noting that late Alamieyeseigha was the first democratically elected governor of Bayelsa State, having been elected in May 1999 and re-elected in 2003, the Senate said it appreciated that the late governor, before becoming governor, served the nation as a member of the Nigerian Air Force, where he retired as a Squadron Leader.
Saraki, who presided over the plenary, therefore set up an eight-man delegation, to visit the state and condole with the government and family of the deceased.
The Red Chamber also observed a one-minute silence for the late former Bayelsa state governor.