Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reacted to the death of Prof Christopher Dime, pioneer president of Ijaw National Council, INC, and one of the progenitors of the Ijaw struggle.
DAILY POST learnt that the late Ijaw nationalist was a founding member of INC and its pioneer president between 1992 and 1994, two years before the creation of Bayelsa State.
Speaking during the service of songs and lecture/night of tribute in honour of the Ijaw activist, Diri described the late Dime as a man who brought an intellectual dimension to the Ijaw struggle.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Nimibofa Ayawei, the governor urged Ijaw people to reinvigorate the character of humility and service to humanity, just like the progenitors of Ijaw struggle did.
He said: “We have come to first celebrate Prof Christopher Dime, to the family, he was the first husband, a father, to the Ijaw nation, a man who struggled to emancipate our people. He brought an intellectual dimension to the Ijaw struggle.
“There is something unique since I came in; I have been reading the tributes, and there is something unique about the man, his humility and sacrifice to his people.
“If you look at what is happening from tomorrow to the weekend, we are celebrating two great men of Ijaw land, Isaac Adaka Boro and Prof Dime, who will finally be laid to rest over the weekend, and these are people who brought a different dimension to the struggle we are in.
“But for everything that has a beginning, it must surely have an end, and Dime has done his part.
“We must reinvigorate our character of humility and our service to humanity. These are two things we have learnt from the lives of Dime.”
In his tribute, the President of Ijaw National Council (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaka, described the late Ijaw leader as humble, fearless and tireless champion and a lover and crusader of the Ijaw cause.
He stated that the late Prof Dime fought a good fight to unite and liberate the Ijaw nation, describing his service to his people as selfless and sacrificial in the struggle for emancipation of his ppeople,who have suffered long years of neglect and deprivation, inspite of being the ‘goose that laid the golden egg’.
The remains of Prof Dime will be buried on Saturday at his country home in Iboro village in Olodiama clan, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.