Late Gbasaa Laid To Rest At His Agudama Community

 

Comrade Ebiserikumo Gbasaa a  Human Rights Activist  has been laid to rest in his home town Agudama Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Laid to rest at the weekend, Gbasaa who died at the age of sixt right, drew   Civil Society Organizations and all the human rights activists in the state to his burial ceremony because of his nature of activism.

Known as one man squad , voice of the voiceless and a great messenger, Gbasa spoke to all those in power whom he felt were not doing the right thing the reason why he was in and out of  Police Stations until he passed on.

In his tribute to Gbasssa, Felix Tuodolo the Pioneer President of Ijaw Youths Council, described Gbasa as a fearless man who spoke truth to power adding that he will be greatly missed.

 Tuodolo maintained that Gbasa was  a great man, a  freedom fighter and the voice of the voiceless.

He said: " Gbasa we know had confronted every governor that has ruled Bayelsa State with his drum and whistle in front of government house. 

He comes there, when you are not performing, he will say it; you are a thief. Almost every governor had their share Gbasa's biles. Unfortunately when he said those things, most times he gets arrested but not for long, he is also released.

"The fact is that he is somebody that speaks to power. He is somebody that says you are not doing well openly, not belonging to any  political party. That is the Gbasa we know. Today, he is gone and we begin to think  who will step into his shoes. It is difficult  but these days we have the internet  we have the social media. 

"Unfortunately most people are bsiased and belong to one political party or the other or for the interest of a political party or a political opponent. We don't have somebody like Gbasa that was unbiased. It will be difficult to fill that gap  but  people are still there that will do their little bit.

Also in her tribute,  Ebiuwou Koku Obiyai, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Bayelsa State described late Gbasa as an intelligent man whom she said campaigned for the whole of  Ijaw nation.

She said:"Gbasa was  an intelligent man  he was  focused. He started this Izon struggle  and when he started the struggle, I observed that he campaigned vigorously for the Izon nation and he  believed  in truth and justice and he was not ashamed of that, he concentrated on that even unto his death.

Werinipre Seibarugu former acting governor of Bayelsa State in his tribute stated that late was a strong institution that supposed to be attended.

Seibarugu said:"Gbasa was a strong patriot whose voice balanced the Ijaw struggle equation. He established himself as an advocate for economic, security and political prosperity in Ijaw people. 

"He supposed to  have been studied if  it were to be  in the Western world world to know the type of person he is  but in our society  we sometimes look at some things very common and  careless but you can see that  he was a comrade not in Bayelsa  and Nigeria but world wide. He was well educated.

Nengi James, the seconded  Vice President  of Ijaw National Congress in his reaction described the late Gbasa as someone that has established himself as an institution especially in Ijaw matters  and in Nigeria  Delta issues.

He called  him  a human rights activist to the core adding that he has passion for humanity.

Davide West the chairman of Civil Liberties Organization, in his remarks stated that Gbasa  loved every Nigerian  describing  him as a man that didn't want to see anybody being intimidated or oppressed "not minding where you come from.

He said that education was one of the    things that  was dear to his heart adding that he understood the transformative power of knowledge as he mentored countless students.

Flint  Williams, former Chairman of Civil Liberties Organization,  Bayelsa State described  Gbasa as a senior comrade  whom he said his ideals were truth stating that  he stood for the ideals of Ijaw nation.

He said:" Gbasa stood for the down trodden in our communities. He stood for humanity, he believed that you shouldn't oppress the next man. He paid a serious prize for his act of activism in defending the down trodden.

"He was always available, fearless but humble. He was a great man. 

Gbasa had calling because of his own way of doing things. You see him with his talking drum. They said he was mad but he wasn't mad. He was spending his time, his money, his energy for the common man.

"There are so many out there that will stand in the shoes of Gbasa. His shoes are very large and big but we will try our best. There is no vacuum in humanity in the course of time and we are believing that somebody will stand in his course may be different ideals from that of Gbasa. 

"We know definitely we have people in  CLO that will do even better. He has laid legacy and others will come and do theirs.

Anaye -Kio (aka CIA continuous Ijaw action) said  Gbasa was the voice of the voice less, the defender of the defenceless and a man of courage that can never be estimated.

Describing  him as  a   man that has an aura that can dwarf   a giant, he said that Gbasa will exuded his last breath just for the common man. 

" He was an  extra ordinary man and a man that   doesn't care whether you love him or not. A man that doesn't want to know your feeling  but as long as it has a connotation towards Ijaw nation he is there for you. 

"I came here with the conviction that Gbasa is not dead. It is the physical body that has translated  because we all keep on matching on..Gbasa like the  John the Baptist has an over size shoe  that was why he refused to wear when he was on the move because if he pulls it off, the shoe will not size anybody. I believe that Gbasa is going to send us a comforter that we will recognise.and believe in and match on in the struggle."

 Also Tony Ileh  an activist, in his reaction described  the day as a very sad day for Bayelsa and Niger Delta.adfing that  "we have lost one of our strongest voices in the struggle. 

He described him as a very strong advocate for  the poor and  for the emancipation of the oppressed calling  him "a one man squad".

"He supported us in all ramifications  and nowhere that you will find yourself that Gbasa will not want to come in and give  you his support. There is nothing that we did in terms of the struggle, in terms of the oppressed, and good Governance in Bayelsa State that Gbasa left himself out.

 "He was actually the one that inspired most of us into the struggle. He taught us brilliantly. He had  the courage, the sincerity to live above board and with him, we believed that future is bright for the oppressed and for those that are yet to be  emancipated.We will definitely miss him.

"The struggle continues. We are not backing out. He has instilled his spirit  into most of us,  both people that in the  CLO, IYC and  INC. All the oppressed in the Niger Delta should also believe that there are more Gbasas still fighting for the struggle.

"We are temporarily going to miss him  but we believe that we will fill up that gap.

Bodmas Prince Kemepadei, Chairman Izon Cultural Heritage Centre (ICHC), in his reaction stated that "Gbassa to us was a reflection of what the Egbesu stood for. He propagated the cause of the Egbesu which gives voice to  the voiceless and hope to the hopeless.  Losing him is sad. It is an irreplaceable loss to the Ijaw Nation."

Isaac Stephen, former Chairman Physically Challenged People in Bayelsa State said  that Gbasa was a freedom fighter adding that the peculiar region of the Niger Delta is oppressed.

He said:"  Up till now, we have not gotten the benefits that the Nigerian State is reaping from our region. He was somebody that speaks for the oppressed,  he used his personal money to support litigation and he spoke against the mismanagement of resources coming to the the Niger Delta.

"The same spirit that he had is still on people like  Asati Dokubo, Tompolo and some of us who are at the background supporting them to fight  and we have lawyers and CLOs who are fighting the same freedom fight.

 " And for those who are  illegally oppressing people, we are sending them signal that we have fierce leaders who are more educated and serious in this commitment to liberate the oppressed. Wherever you are, if you are an oppressor, resign before we take the battle to your place. Gbasa is not dead . We have others who are vibrant who are ready to spend   the last pint of the blood for the course of Justice."

Weri Digifa, Supreme leader of the Supreme Egbesu Assembly, digressing a bit from the tribute advised all Ijaws to be vigilant advising that all should know who is living close to him or her.

He said:" Nigeria is in a mess. We are now living in Banana Republic where they kill people everyday. You must know who lives close to you. You must be vigilant. As Ijaw people we know why we are here and what Isaac Boro stood for. We know what Commander Gbasa stood for. We  as  Ijaw people have never been defeated and we will never be deafed  by anybody.We must be alive  and be ready to defend our land and that is the most important thing.

"Politicians, please stay close to our cultural heritage  because today culture has brought all of together here. Former general should call meeting  to discuss the way forward and how to secure the lives of our people because there is war coming.

"Please be ready, we are enjoying the last glories. The three hundred Spartans that died after the Kaiama Declaration  were buried and we are getting old but I will never be in my old age and somebody will come to my village and attack me. We must protect our land and  anybody coming yo our land with Cutlass in form of farming, we must make sure that we defend our land. 

"You must know your neighbor. Today, Gbasa is gone. We must protect the legacies he left behind and what he believed in as an Ijaw man. The Biafrans are preparing,  the Fulanis are preparing but even after my  death, any Ijaw man that will say that they want to form alliance with Biafra, that generation will be cursed.and their generation cursed for ever.  If you want to collect money go and collect money but if you say you want to work with Biafra in the name of Ijaw Land, your family will be cursed."

Rear Admiral IJ Gbasa the younger Brother of Gbasa in his tribute described his brothers as one who was a talking point to his peers in those days.

He said: " Your were very fearless but  very passionate in the pursuit of academic and sporting excellence. You were an example of how a young man should be serious with his life.

"From your university days you developed the knack for social justice fighting injustice wherever  whether it directly concerns you or not. Your activism knew non tribe, colour or creed."

Michael Gbasa son of  late Gbasa expressed gratitude to those that identified  with the family in  their  mourning period  

He said his father will remain a part of  Ijaw struggle history  adding  "my father was a man of principle.  He was a man that knew the truth. He was passionate about truth. He didn't want anybody to be oppressed. 

He didn't want anybody  marginalize his own people and he will go beyond his comfort zone to make sure that he satisfies the next person closes to him."