Killed in circumstances still considered controversial, Chief Aminasoari Kala Dikibo, National Vice Chairman, South South, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was finally laid to rest in his native Okrika recently. But laying him to rest may not have laid to rest the circumstances of his death as this report examines.
On the well- paved lawns of St. Peters Cathedral, an imposing white Gothic structure in Okrika, Rivers State, a group of mourners gathered in clusters. It was the funeral service of slain National Vice ––Chairman of PDP, South-South, Chief A.K. Dikibo, the Semina 1 of Okrika.
It is About 2:15pm and the sun is shining, oblivious of the mood of the people gathered on the grounds of the church; sad faced women are sitting on a raised platform in front of the church; the place is crawling with armed mobile policemen in their deep green and black fatigues; an elderly woman is being assisted as she walks with difficulty in the direction of the gate; a bell rings; men in traditional Rivers attire are milling around ; an atmosphere of resignation and relief hangs in the air - relief from the knowledge that in an hour or two, the entire ceremony would be over after a 4-month period of agonising depression..
Outside the sprawing grounds beyond the elegant fence encircling the church, black Jeeps, Mercedez Benz cars, the latest models of Toyota, Honda and Peugeot cars are spread out haphazardly on the road.
Inside the church, there is a hush as mourners listen to an address being delivered by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP}, Chief Audu Ogbe.
Among the captive audience are Governor Diepreye Alamieseigha [Bayelsa], Governor Victor Attah [Akwa Ibom],Governor Peter Odili [Rivers State] Chief Tony Anenih, Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Hon.Austin Okpara, Senate President Chief Adolphus Wabara, Senator Stella Omu, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Governor Chris Ngige [Anambra] Cross River Deputy Governor, Chief Walter Eneji, Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Obong Chris Ekpeyong, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby among other dignitaries.
Chief Audu Ogbe’s words: “It should be clear to all of us in Nigeria now that the killings are becoming too many. There is too much blood flowing in the land. It is indeed too sad that much of it is promoted by those of us who are supposed to be leaders.
Like the Governor [Dr. Peter Odili] said, nobody can escape the wrath of God and there is no detergent strong enough to wash human blood from the soul of a killer. I think it is time for every one of us at whatever level to go home and think: what do the killings really solve? What is there on this Earth that is worth murdering anyone for? Why is it so difficult for us to tolerate different opinions and to accommodate our differences? Dikibo brought cheer to the PDP Working Committee; he brought life to the Working Committee; the light is gone out.”
The Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili had spoken before Chief Ogbe. In a sober mood, Governor Odili had noted that “no matter how ingenious and devilishly so any human being can be, and no matter how smart, the sin of a taking a human life which belongs sacredly to God can never escapes the judgment of the Almighty God. Nigeria and the ruling party, the PDP have lost a treasure that we cannot value.”
He further noted that late Dikibo left “very deep footprints in the sands of history.” He appealed to the slain politician’s family members to sustain the legacy he left behind.
His words: “You owe him a duty to sustain the legacy he left behind. He was full of life, very positively hopeful for tomorrow, but God in his all knowingness allowed what happened to happen when it did. We cannot question God. But these that he has left behind have a duty to sustain the principle and legacies he believed in.”
Going philosophical, Dr. Odili said: “Death is a price every living human being must pay……. But we take solace in the assurance that God’s judgment, no man can escape.
So as we welcome all of you all over the country who have come to share this pain with us, we thank you for the trouble you have taken to be here; we thank each and everyone of you. Rivers State has lost a great chief; a great politician we can never replace…….But the joy of a dying father is the assurance of a worthy successor. A.K.D has left worthy successors. We thank God for his life. Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. St. Peter’s Okrika, perhaps in the history of this church has never seen such a gathering of national figures as we have seen today. That bears testimony to the quality of man that Chief A.K.D. was.
For our people in Okrika , we want to thank you for the way you have received our guests but we want to also appeal to you to help build a legacy of peace to commemorate the life of our brother and our chief. Peace is an important ingredient that every society, every community, every nationality need for progress and development. For my brothers and sisters of the Dikibo family, especially his brother, his wife and the children, your father has left very very deep footprints in the sands of history……..”
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also sent a condolence message addressed to Dr. Peter Odili and was read by Chief Audu Ogbe.
In the letter, Obasanjo said, “I write to condole you and the Dikibo Family over the sad loss of the National Chairman, South-South, of our Party, the Peoples Democratic Party[PDP}. Chief Aminasoari K. Dikibo,the Semina 1 of Okrka…….. I have known the late Chief since my days as military head of state and he was a senior official in the Nigerian Airways. He was a diligent and serious man. At 67, Chief Dikibo was bubbling with life when he was murdered on the 6th of February, 2004………… It was a devastating loss considering his contribution to the political development and stability of the South- South in particular and Nigeria at large. Dikibo was an achiever. He made things work. He accomplished very difficult political assignments and helped doused tension. He was a great builder, a vocal mobilizer and a courageous fighter. He was a man of the people in his constituency and a pillar of support in Rivers State. His death struck a big blow on our party and our country. We have however taken solace in the fact that he made wonderful impression on the sands of time. He left legacies worthy of emulation.
May God comfort you and his family…………..”
Outside the church building after the funeral service and as the mourners were heading for the graveside, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa was cornered by media men who asked her to comment on the state of the Nigerian democracy, plagued by killings.
Her response; “What happened today is most unfortunate. I would have expected Nigerians to embrace this democracy in a more positive manner rather than in this negative manner because it is as if we have recorded more assassinations either through armed robbery or otherwise from the beginning of this democracy. I am in a severe pain; I am completely devastated because I am close to the family and I was very close to Dikibo in his lifetime outside politics. He was my brother and my friend; he always supported me. But I think we have to do something about security in this country. And I think we should also try and eschew politics of bitterness. That way, we will move forward.”
As speaker after speaker spoke at the funeral service, it became clear to listening ears that many leaders in the country did not believe that Dikibo was murdered by armed robbers.
It will be recalled that soon after Chief Dikibo was killed and President Obasanjo informed the nation [after consultations with the police] that Chief Dikibo died at the hands of armed robbers, it was the PDP national chairman Chief Audu Ogbe who calmed edgy nerves in the Niger Delta and the country at large by cautioning against reaching hasty conclusions, asking the police to go further in their investigations.
And here at Okrika on the day of Dikibo interment, hear Ogbe: “It should be clear to all of us in Nigeria that the killings are becoming too many. There is too much blood flowing in the land. It is indeed too sad that much of it is promoted by those of us who are supposed to be leaders.”
It was also clear to those who were listening to this leader that he did not believe that robbers killed Dikibo.
And listening to Governor Peter Odili’s line of thought seems to be strengthened. Hear Odili: “No matter how ingenious and devilishly so any human being can be and no matter how smart , the sin of taking a human life which belongs sacredly to God can never escape the judgement of the Almighty God.”
It didn’t appear as if, he too, was speaking against armed robbers!
And as for Senator Ita-Giwa, she had said : “But I think we have to do something about security in this country. And I think we should also try and eschew politics of bitterness. That way we will move forward.”
As crowds of people walked towards the graveside on another part of town many others hung around the church grounds in clusters whispering in sad tones. Not many felt they had the guts to stand the inevitable and morbid “dust to dust” exercise, so they kept away from the graveside.
And so it was that late afternoon of Saturday May 22,2004, Chief A.K. Dikibo was lowered into the Earth.
About 150 meters from the St. Peter’s Cathedral Church is an open field where colorful canopies had been erected and dishes set on long tables where the reception was to take place. Crowds of people had also gathered under the canopies.
But soon after Chief Dikibo’s remains were lowered into the Earth the governors and other national dignitaries zoomed out of Okrika.
It was a wise decision; because Okrika is a hot bed of political discontent where violence erupts with the unruly suddenness of earthquakes as we have in Asia and the Americas. And who wants to be caught in an earthquake?
Secondly, it didn’t appear as if Chief Audu Ogbe or Governor Peter Odili were in any mood for refreshment. What sort of reception? What sort of refreshment? It was a sad day. Chief Audu Ogbe said it all.
Meanwhile, four of the 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing of the PDP National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Chief Alfred Dikibo, have been arraigned before an Ogwashi-Uku Magistrate's Court, Delta State on a three-count charge of armed robbery. They were brought down from Abuja where they had been in police custody.
The charges against them made no mention of Chief Dikibo's murder. Charged were Solomon Igbinedion (24), Onyeka Emordi (22), Chukwuyem Solomon (20) and Chinedu Boi (17).
