The attendees included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and his wife, Dolapo; former presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan alongside his wife, Dame Patience; ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, as well as the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the last election, Mr. Peter Obi.
State governors and governors-elect including Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and wife, Betty, Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Darius Ishiaku (Taraba) were at the funeral service, which also had in attendance, the governors-elect of Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Taraba and Niger among others.
Chief Obasanjo, in his goodwill message delivered by Vice President Osinbajo, described Pa Diri as an exemplary teacher, a lay reader, and a community leader, who gave his children a proper upbringing.
According to him: “We are here to celebrate the life and times of Pa Diri. The array of personalities here is an indication that Pa Diri brought up and nurtured the aspirations of so many children.”
The former Nigerian leader noted that the late Diri’s reward as a teacher came not just through his son, Senator Diri, but attracted so many notable Nigerians to Sampou to celebrate a humble teacher.
Former President Jonathan, in his remarks, said that he joined the bereaved family in appreciating Obasanjo, Osinbajo, and all those who came to celebrate and honour the family, and the people of the state.
Also, former Vice President Atiku said: “There is a special relationship between me and the people of Bayelsa State. I am with you as a family, and that is why I am physically here.”
Responding, Senator Diri said: “We are indeed overwhelmed. There can be no love more than that. I would not have thought even in the wildest of my imaginations that there would be a large number of high-profile Nigerians here to celebrate my father.”
