Kaiama Youths Accuse Bayelsa Govt of Using Boro’s Name To Siphon-off Public Funds
Youths from Kaiama, Isaac Adaka Boro’s ancestral home on Saturday, resisted moves by the Bayelsa government to immortalize the late Niger Delta hero, and give him a befitting state burial at the state capital.
They allege that the neglect of the family of Isaac Boro, and his community, by the state government, while at the same time, using his name to steal public funds that end up lining the purse of government officials, is illegal.
The angry youth, who pointed accusing fingers at Felix Tuodolor, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, said that some N58 million was approved for the burial by the government, yet regretted that only a paltry N2 million was being spent in piecemeal.
A member of the community on Saturday held back the remains of Boro, who was brought to lie in state in his community, and decided to bury him to puncture the plans by the Bayelsa government. It was a move to score political mileage with the name of Isaac Adaka Boro, and also a move enriching government officials at the expense of Boro’s family and community.
However, after several hours of deliberation with community and family members of the late Ijaw icon, the community members ended the face-off, and the remains were allowed to leave the community for further ceremonies in Yenagoa.
Gov Seriake Dickson, of Bayelsa, on Sunday joined other eminent personalities to pay tribute to the late Isaac Boro during a re-burial ceremony at Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park in Yenagoa.
Dickson, who extolled the virtues of Boro, said that his struggle “symbolized the struggles for economic integration” that still remains germane in present day Nigeria.
He urged the Ijaw youth to emulate the patriotism and selfless spirit of the late activist, and noted that the ills Boro fought against are still faced today in the Niger Delta region.
He called on the ongoing National Conference to restructure the country based on the principles of true federalism, equity, and justice.
The governor said that the Bayelsa government had named the state’s College of Education, and an expressway in Yenagoa, after Isaac Boro to immortalize him.
The governor also said that the state government had within the first year in office, constructed a road to link Kaima, the ancestral home of Boro, to the state capital.
Ijaw leader and former Minister for Information, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, also eulogized Boro, for drawing national and international attention to the plight of the Niger Delta region.
He commended the Bayelsa government for bringing the remains of Boro from Lagos, where he was buried during the civil war, for re-burial at the state capital.
He saluted the courage of Boro in spearheading the 12 day revolution, and urged the youth to emulate his courage, and show their love for the Ijaw nation.
“Our young people should follow (in) the footsteps of Adaka Boro, they should be heroic, (and) take steps to fight for their tribe.
“They should emancipate the Ijaw tribe, and show love for their culture and tribe,” Clark said.
Also, DSP Alamieyesiegha, an ex-convict and former governor of Bayelsa, extolled Boro and described him as “a revolutionary patriot” who died in service of his fatherland.
He regretted that he was unable to publish an updated historical account of the 12 day Revolution led by Boro, in 2004, when he was governor, and urged the present administration to publish the book to immortalize Boro.
Speaking earlier in a valedictory speech, the son of the Ijaw Icon, Felix Boro, decried the neglect of the family by the Ijaw community.
He noted that his father symbolized the dignity of the Ijaw man, and should be honoured and respected.
He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to show concern in the welfare of dependants of the fallen hero, who died in service of the nation.
The remains of Boro, which was exhumed from Ikoyi, in Lagos, where he was earlier buried during the civil war 46 years ago, was re-buried at Ijaw Heroes Park in Yenagoa.
Youth from Kaima had on Saturday insisted that Boro be buried in his ancestral home, to protest the neglect of the family and the community by the Bayelsa government, who they accused of using the name of the late Ijaw hero to score political points.
The intervention of Felix Boro, who mediated and appealed to the youth, paved the way for the eventual movement of the body to Yenagoa for re-burial.
The exhumed remains of Boro had lied in state at his country home in Kolokumo/Okpokumo, the Local Government Area in Bayelsa
It was also noted publicly that Gen Andrew Azazi, who died in an air crash in December 2012, was also buried at the park.
They allege that the neglect of the family of Isaac Boro, and his community, by the state government, while at the same time, using his name to steal public funds that end up lining the purse of government officials, is illegal.
The angry youth, who pointed accusing fingers at Felix Tuodolor, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, said that some N58 million was approved for the burial by the government, yet regretted that only a paltry N2 million was being spent in piecemeal.
A member of the community on Saturday held back the remains of Boro, who was brought to lie in state in his community, and decided to bury him to puncture the plans by the Bayelsa government. It was a move to score political mileage with the name of Isaac Adaka Boro, and also a move enriching government officials at the expense of Boro’s family and community.
However, after several hours of deliberation with community and family members of the late Ijaw icon, the community members ended the face-off, and the remains were allowed to leave the community for further ceremonies in Yenagoa.
Gov Seriake Dickson, of Bayelsa, on Sunday joined other eminent personalities to pay tribute to the late Isaac Boro during a re-burial ceremony at Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park in Yenagoa.
Dickson, who extolled the virtues of Boro, said that his struggle “symbolized the struggles for economic integration” that still remains germane in present day Nigeria.
He urged the Ijaw youth to emulate the patriotism and selfless spirit of the late activist, and noted that the ills Boro fought against are still faced today in the Niger Delta region.
He called on the ongoing National Conference to restructure the country based on the principles of true federalism, equity, and justice.
The governor said that the Bayelsa government had named the state’s College of Education, and an expressway in Yenagoa, after Isaac Boro to immortalize him.
The governor also said that the state government had within the first year in office, constructed a road to link Kaima, the ancestral home of Boro, to the state capital.
Ijaw leader and former Minister for Information, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, also eulogized Boro, for drawing national and international attention to the plight of the Niger Delta region.
He commended the Bayelsa government for bringing the remains of Boro from Lagos, where he was buried during the civil war, for re-burial at the state capital.
He saluted the courage of Boro in spearheading the 12 day revolution, and urged the youth to emulate his courage, and show their love for the Ijaw nation.
“Our young people should follow (in) the footsteps of Adaka Boro, they should be heroic, (and) take steps to fight for their tribe.
“They should emancipate the Ijaw tribe, and show love for their culture and tribe,” Clark said.
Also, DSP Alamieyesiegha, an ex-convict and former governor of Bayelsa, extolled Boro and described him as “a revolutionary patriot” who died in service of his fatherland.
He regretted that he was unable to publish an updated historical account of the 12 day Revolution led by Boro, in 2004, when he was governor, and urged the present administration to publish the book to immortalize Boro.
Speaking earlier in a valedictory speech, the son of the Ijaw Icon, Felix Boro, decried the neglect of the family by the Ijaw community.
He noted that his father symbolized the dignity of the Ijaw man, and should be honoured and respected.
He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to show concern in the welfare of dependants of the fallen hero, who died in service of the nation.
The remains of Boro, which was exhumed from Ikoyi, in Lagos, where he was earlier buried during the civil war 46 years ago, was re-buried at Ijaw Heroes Park in Yenagoa.
Youth from Kaima had on Saturday insisted that Boro be buried in his ancestral home, to protest the neglect of the family and the community by the Bayelsa government, who they accused of using the name of the late Ijaw hero to score political points.
The intervention of Felix Boro, who mediated and appealed to the youth, paved the way for the eventual movement of the body to Yenagoa for re-burial.
The exhumed remains of Boro had lied in state at his country home in Kolokumo/Okpokumo, the Local Government Area in Bayelsa
It was also noted publicly that Gen Andrew Azazi, who died in an air crash in December 2012, was also buried at the park.
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