Bayelsa To Immortalize Second Republic Senator Zuofa As Dickson Extols his Sterling Qualities

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Sunday, November 15th, 2015

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson over the weekend announced that a befitting monument would be named after the late Senator Amaitari Zuofa, as part of efforts to immortalize the nonagenarian.

The Governor also directed the state Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs to liaise with the Zuofa family to build a befitting mausoleum in memory of his various contributions at the national and state levels.

He stated this at the commendation service in honour of the 95-year old second republic Senator Zuofa, which took place at the St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of the state.

Condoling with the deceased family and the Kaiama community over the demise of Senator Zuofa, Governor Dickson described him as a great leader, who deserved a place in the history of the state.

According to him, “from the Senator’s biography, one can deduce that, he lived a life of selfless service, dedication and honour, essential qualities that are lacking in our generation.”

Governor Dickson noted that, Late Senator Zuofa was a prominent Federal Permanent Secretary, who served without any blemish and placed overriding interests above parochial interests in all his endeavours.

He said, the deceased was the last man standing in the present generation, stressing that, Kaiama; his hometown would remain the cornerstone of the Ijaw struggle.

In a sermon, the Anglican Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, described Senator Zuofa as an Economist per excellence, who distinguished himself as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the various positions he held in his lifetime.

Rt. Rev. Oko Jaja, who said, Senator Zuofa had labored to impact positively on society, urged Bayelsans to dedicate his death to peace in the state, particularly as the state was preparing for the governorship election next month.

Urging the people to draw closer to God to enable them obtain salvation, he prayed God to grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Senator Zuofa, who served as a senator between 1979 and 1983 representing the then Brass, Sagbama and Yenagoa senatorial district, was a strong advocate for the development of the Niger Delta.

He also made a strong case for erosion and flood control, oil pollution in the Niger Delta and was instrumental to the creation of Rivers and Bayelsa States.

Senator Zuofa is survived by his wife, Mrs. Christiana and 12 children.