Bayelsa loses two statesmen in two days

The last of the fighters of the 12-Day Revolution, Capt. Samuel Owonaru, is dead.

He died on Tuesday in his home town Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area after a brief illness, according to close family sources.

Owonaru fought alongside late Ijaw hero, Major Isaac Boro, in the bid to declare the botched Niger Delta republic.

They were arrested, tried and sentenced to death before their eventual release by the General Yakubu Gowon-led military government in 1967.

They fought the civil war on the side of Nigeria and Isaac Boro eventually died during the civil war.

Owonaru was the only survivor among those who took part in the revolution.

Similarly, Bayelsa State also lost one of her illustrious statesmen, Chief Francis Amaebi Doukpola.

Until his demise, Doukpola was the chairman Bayelsa Elders Council.

He was a banker and a politician and also contested the governorship of the old Rivers State, but was disqualified by the Ibrahim Babangida-led government in 1992.

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