Tears, Tributes as Oronto Douglas is Laid to Rest
An outpouring of emotions and eulogies trailed yesterday’s burial of Environmental and Human Rights Activist, Oronto Natei Douglas at his ancestral home, Okoroba in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Among those present at the funeral rites in Okoroba were Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Media Group/ ARISE TV Networks, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, and former Chairman of the Friends of the Earth, Nnimmo Bassey.
At the funeral service, held in his honour at the St Peter's Anglican Church in the state capital, Yenagoa,
President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged the pivotal role played by his late special adviser in his government.
He also recalled the crucial role the late Oronto Douglas played in the sustenance of the Niger Delta struggle for resource control and environmental restoration.
He said the late activist introduced intellectual activism to the Niger Delta struggle for economic inclusiveness, noting that he was articulate, an academic icon, idealist, proactive, strategic, courageous, exclusively humanitarian and never retracted, once committed to a cause he believed in.
Eulogising the late Environmental and Human rights advocate, the President described him as a unique personality, who was worth more than silver and gold, stressing that, he was departing at a time when his wise and useful counsel were most needed.
He remarked that Douglas impacted positively in so many ways on the people of Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta and the entire country, within his short, but eventful life on earth and would continue to be remembered by all who knew him.
"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," President Jonathan said.
The funeral service was also attended by the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, the former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission boss, Nuhu Ribadu and Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, among other eminent Nigerians.
In his remarks, Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson announced the award of scholarships to the two children of late Oronto Douglas to university level, in appreciation of his selfless contributions to the development of humanity and the Niger Delta environment.
The governor also directed the immediate employment of all the teachers of the Chief Edwin Clark Preparatory school in Okoroba, founded by the late human rights lawyer as well as support for his foundation and other legal projects initiated by the 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, who also officiated at the service, 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, as God will only receive the righteous into his kingdom, where there will be no sorrow, pain, hunger or death for those who die in Christ.
Pupils of the Chief Edwin Clark Preparatory School, Okoroba, founded by late Oronto Douglas, also sang songs in tribute to the late human rights activist.