By Bulou Kosin
Immediate past Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro says Late Emeritus Professor and first President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Christopher A. Dime, buried weekend at his hometown, Iboro, Edo State, “was an impactful man”.
Dime, who died at 97 years, was the Amaokosuwei (oldest man) of Iboro, Olodiama Kingdom, in Ovia North East LGA of Edo State. His burial drew to Iboro town the current President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the first President of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, a team of Bayelsa State Founding Fathers, and representatives of various groups who filed past and paid last respects to the open corpse of Rev. Emeritus Prof. C. A. Dime in a coffin dressed in Ijaw national insignia and colours.
Earlier on Friday morning, Dime’s corpse lay in state at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for 3 hours as testament of the Ijaw national leader he was, before he was freighted by road past Delta State to his Iboro hometown in Edo State in the evening. His homeward journey effectively began May 15, 2024 with a Service of Songs and night of tributes at same Ijaw House in Yenagoa. The Amakosuwei was given traditional wake-keep Friday night at Iboro amidst cultural displays with the IYC led by its Deputy President, Comrade Freedom Atigbi putting up strong presence and Ogele (processional) dance/tributes, ahead of the Saturday, May 18, 2024 interment. A post-interment Thanksgiving Service/Reception for guests immediately held at the Iboro Primary School grounds, with music supplied by Barrister S. Smooth.
Otuaro, sent in via WhatsApp his tribute on Prof. Dime, just before the remains of the revered Ijaw and Niger Delta leader was lowered to mother earth. Otuaro, a lawyer, expressed fond memories of how Dime “contributed to my career path in law” even as he noted that “Rev. Emeritus Prof. Dime, frontline Ijaw leader was committed to the advancement of the Ijaw nation, to the service of God and the upliftment of humanity. His contributions to the creation of Bayelsa State and foundation he laid for the yet unrealised Toru-ebe and Oil-Rivers States for the Ijaw people, are well documented”. Otuaro, while expressing his condolences to the family and the Ijaw nation prayed for God’s guidance.
Otuaro who came into Nigeria while Prof. Dime’s burial kicked-off in Edo State was given a blow by blow account of the burial proceedings by a team largely made of alumni of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, that he mobilised to the burial at Iboro. The team included Elder Taupade Akemotubo, Messrs Vincent Ubebe and Bulou Kosin, Pst (Mrs) Beauty Fun-arere Karuna-Oweifie, Engr. Peter Wonighan, Mr. David Igbegi amongst others.
