Jonathan, Dickson mourn as Douglas is laid to rest

President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, mourned yesterday as the late presidential aide and environmental activist, Oronto Douglas, was buried in his Okoroba hometown, Nembe Yenagoa, Local Government Area.

The president acknowledged the pivotal role Douglas played in the sustenance of the Niger Delta struggle for resource control and environmental restoration.

Jonathan spoke at the funeral service in honour of late Douglas at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Yenagoa.

He said Douglas introduced intellectual activism to the Niger Delta struggle for economic inclusiveness.

He described the late Douglas as an academic icon, idealist, proactive, strategic and courageous humanitarian who never retracted, once committed to a cause he believed in.

The President who poured encomiums on his former aide further stated Douglas’ unique personality was worth more than silver and gold.

The President said: “By his contributions, he is worth more that silver and gold and he is leaving at a time he is most needed as he has impacted positively on the people of the State, the Niger Delta and the entire country within the short period of his life on earth.”

Dickson announced the award of scholarships to the two children of late Douglas to university level in appreciation of his selfless contributions to the development of humanity and the Niger Delta environment.

The governor also directed immediate employment of all the teachers of the Chief Edwin Clark Preparatory school in Okoroba, founded by the late human rights lawyer.

He pledged to support Douglas’ foundation and other legal projects initiated by the late icon.

“The State government will give every necessary support to the children to have their education to university level, the government will support all his dreams and what he lived for,” Dickson said.

In his sermon at the service, the Anglican Bishop of the Niger Delta – West, Diocese, the Right Reverend Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, described death as the last enemy of mankind that will be defeated on the last day by Jesus Christ.

He admonished everyone to fear God in whichever position they find themselves and always eschew evil.

Pupils of the Chief Edwin Clark Preparatory School, Okoroba also delivered special renditions in praise of the late human rights activist.