President Goodluck Jonathan has acknowledged the pivotal role late environmental and human rights activist, Oronto Natei Douglas, played in the sustenance of the Niger Delta struggle.

Jonathan prayed glowing tributes to Douglas for his selfless roles for resource control and environmental restoration.

The President made the acknowledgement at the weekend during the funeral service in honour of late Oronto Douglas at the St Peter’s Anglican Church in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.

According to him, late Oronto Douglas introduced intellectual activism to the Niger Delta struggle for economic inclusiveness, noting that, he was articulate.

He described his former aide as an academic icon, idealist, proactive, strategic, courageous, exclusively humanitarian and never retracts, once committed to a cause he believes in.

Eulogising the late environmental and human rights advocate, the President also described him as a unique personality, who was worth more than silver and gold.

He stressed that Douglas was leaving 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, 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,” Jonathan said

In his remarks, Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief 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 Rev. Emmanuel Oko-Jaj, 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.

The human rights and civil society activists as well as members of Nigeria Bar Association also attended the funeral rights en masse.

Rev Nnimmo Bassey, frontline environmentalist who co-founded Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth (RA/FoEN) Nigeria amongst other figures,were also present.

Pupils of the Chief Edwin Clark Preparatory School, Okoroba, founded by late Douglas, also ministered in songs with a special rendition in tribute to the late human rights activist.

•Photo shows Jonathan & Dickson at Dougls funeral

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