Women have been active in the politics of Bayelsa State since its creation on Tuesday, 1 October 1996. For many of them, politics was a familiar game that they had come to understand too well in the old Rivers State.
They had followed the campaigns and taken interest in the colourful careers of politicians in the mould of Harold Dappa-Biriye. Some, like Mrs. Remi Kuku and Immaculata Amaseimogha claim that their apprenticeship dates back to the days leading to the emergence of Chief Melford Okilo as the first civilian governor of the old Rivers State.
The setting effectively moved to Bayelsa State and these women began to see life beyond the first three Military Administrators of the new state, namely Navy Captain Phillip Ayeni, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, and Colonel Edor Obi. But the real watershed of active involvement in politics, for a good number of women in the state came with the advent of the Alamieyeseigha administration on 29 May 1999.
For the entire life span of that government, women were visible in the corridors of the Creek Haven. The government itself took particular care to appoint women into the cabinet, supported their aspirations in the House of Assembly, placed a good number in charge of agencies and parastatals, and endorsed their elevation to the office of Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service.
What’s more, the voices of women overwhelmed campaign rallies. Indeed, no campaign was complete without the mobilising power of the women. That power was further reinforced by the office of the First Lady, effectively beginning with Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha, who virtually became the mother of Bayelsa State politics.
Over time, Her Excellency’s fan base was inherited by Mrs. Patience Faka Jonathan, wife of the Deputy Governor. With the rise of her husband, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to the office of governor, following the dramatic impeachment of Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Jonathan secured the mantle.
Mrs. Jonathan enjoyed a long-range presence in the public eye, receiving the respect, solidarity and adulation of her fellow women even as her husband rose to become Vice President in 2007. The women support base expanded for Jonathan as the zoologist climbed to acting President and, ultimately,m emerged as President on 5 May 2010. The women of Bayelsa State took their rightful place in Patience Jonathan’s caucus of political sisters and friends from the Niger Delta.
Women solidarity groups became an integral part of government. Gender balance became the topic of the day. Equal, not fair female presence in the state’s political space was drummed up in regular media discussions and debates. For the most part, the women also had divided loyalties, now that there were two First Ladies to serve. They practically had one foot in Abuja, tending to the wishes of Mrs. Jonathan, and the other in Yenagoa, running errands for the First Lady at the home front.
They could hobnob with Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva, wife Governor Timipre Sylva, Governor for five years beginning from 2007. In much the same way, Mrs. Rachel Dickson, wife of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, enjoyed the attention and commanded the respect of every Bayelsa woman in the course of her eight-year tenure as First Lady.
Today, the story revolves around Mrs. Gloria Diri and Justice Patience Zuofa Diri, wives of Governor Douye Diri.
Whatever anyone may say, however, the pioneering role of Mrs. Alamieyeseigha was pivotal to the growth of partisan politics, with particular regard to women in Bayelsa State, following the emergence of the first civilian governor, Alamieyeseigha, and the ascendancy of his beloved wife to the office of First Lady.
Ten years after the passing of the Governor-General, Mrs. Alamieyeseigha opens up to speak about the grief of losing her husband, her exploits in politics, and her lifelong commitment as a wife and mother. She equally recounts her memorable adventures with the love of her life. Her story is served fresh in this new book marking her 70th birthday anniversary on 25 October 2025, in Yenagoa.
