Jonathan seeks Ijaw unity, pays tribute to late Bozimo

Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called on the Ijaw nation to stop destroying themselves and embrace unity, saying that it was in working together that they would resolve their common challenges.

He said in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, while paying his tribute to the late Ijaw leader and former member, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Gordon Bozimo.

Bozimo, a former Chairman of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), died on June 5, 2017 at a hospital in Arkansas, United States of America at 67.

His words: “We must stop destroying ourselves as a people. We are not too many. Things are quite challenging.
Sometimes, you need to wear the shoes to know where they pinch. I believe that in working together and helping ourselves collectively, we will be able to solve some of our problems.”

He said the late Bozimo was a politician, who did not believe in assassination of people’s character, noting that although he may disagree with people politically, he usually worked towards what he believed in.

He added that with Bozimo’s passing, the Ijaw nation had lost someone quite unique, patriotic and committed to the development of the people.

“At the political level, Bozimo was like a political giant among a few elders that were in the PDP in terms of his national connections and he was committed to the party.

“In fact, he played a key role in ensuring that I became a running mate to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and also Alamieyeseigha’s victory in the 1999 elections.

“Since then, I have been close to Bozimo, even through turbulent periods. The state has always passed through a fever. In fact, politics is about interests,” he said.

Speaking, Governor Seriake Dickson described Bozimo as a true Ijaw son, who gave his best to the service of the nation.

He charged the people of Bayelsa to key into a new Bayelsa, which has as its fulcrum honour and respect for one another.