Veteran journalist and author, Mingi-Yai Nengi Josef Owei-ilagha, popularly called Pope Pen, will be making a public presentation of four books on 10 October 2026, to mark 30 years of Bayelsa State, and the eleventh memorial anniversary of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. The event is slated for two o’clock in the afternoon at the Azaiki Public Library along Mgbi Road, Yenagoa.
According to the author, the first book captures the tenure of the first civilian government under Alamieyeseigha. The second book focuses on Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the first Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. The third book, Eight Years Of Dickson, zooms into the inner recesses of the Dickson-Jonah government. And the fourth book, Conversations With My Governor, undertakes a friendly interaction with the Douye Diri government.
“I wish Alamieyeseigha were alive and well to hold up a copy of this book for the cameras of the world”, said Pope Pen. “He always looked forward to a book on him from me. I can only hope that Dr Goodluck Jonathan, also my boss, would be glad to serve as Special Guest of Honour at the occasion. In like manner, I would be overwhelmed with gratitude if Senator Henry Seriake Dickson would hold up a copy of my book on him, alongside Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State”.
Royal Father of the Day is expected to be His Eminence King (Dr) Edmund M. Daukoru, Mingi XII, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, while Professor Stephen Temegha Olali, would serve as Chairman of the occasion. The author of the four books, Nengi Josef Ilagha, served as Speech Writer and Special Adviser on Research & Documentation to two former Bayelsa Governors for seven consecutive years.
He was also General Manager of the Bayelsa State Newspaper Corporation for twenty eventful months, during which he published the first weekend newspaper of the corporation, Weekend Waves Weekly (WWW), which could not be sustained after his tenure.
Pope Pen is reputed to have over forty books in his kitty. He is currently undertaking a 12-book marathon in honour of Bayelsa at 30, a feat that is expected to be concluded in December, 2026. He is a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
