Alfred Diete-Spiff Explained

Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff
Order: 
Office:Military Governor of Rivers State
Term Start1:28 May 1967
Term End1:July 1975
Predecessor1:Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Eastern Region)
Successor1:Zamani Lekwot
Birth Date:30 July 1942

Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff (born 30 July 1942) was the first Military Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria after it was created from part of the old Eastern Region, Nigeria.[1] He held office from May 1967 until July 1975 during the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon.[2] He was also a member of the Supreme Military Council.[3]

Diete-Spiff is an Ijaw from Bayelsa State and the Amayanabo (King) of Twon-Brass, Bayelsa State, born on 30 July 1942.He was educated at St. Joseph's College in Western Cameroon and Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England.He joined the Nigerian Navy and was commissioned ships diving officer in 1964.[4] When appointed Military Governor of Rivers State in 1967, he was a Naval Lieutenant Commander aged 25.[5]

In 1973, a correspondent for the Nigerian Observer wrote an article about an impending teacher's strike, which was published on Diete-Spiff's birthday. Taking this as a deliberate insult, Diete-Spiff's aide Ralph Iwowari had the reporter's head publicly shaved and had him beaten with 24 lashes of a cane.[6]

In December 2009, Diete-Spiff was National Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Auctioneers.[7]

He was in the 2005 Confab and served in the Committee on Models and Structure of Government.

He has a son who auditioned for Nigerian Idols Season 7.[8]

Awards

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2014-03-17 . PROFILE: Alfred Diete-Spiff . 2022-03-18 . Nigeria National Conference . en-US.
  2. Web site: Nigeria States . WorldStatesmen . 2010-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20100123080256/http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_federal_states.htm. 23 January 2010 . live.
  3. Web site: His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, Former Military Governor of Rivers State, Reflects on Invasion of His Homeland . Vanguard Interview . Sam Onwuemeodo . November 28, 1999 . 2010-03-04 . 2018-02-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180219212259/http://www.waado.org/Environment/FedGovt_NigerDelta/BayelsaInvasion/IjawsReactToInvasion/DieteSpiffReflectsOnInvasion.html . dead .
  4. Web site: In the News . Newswatch . Kazeem Akintunde and Belinda Mbonu . 19 July 2009 . 2010-03-06.
  5. Web site: Between Rome And Port Harcourt . January 19–25, 2009 . National Network . 2010-03-04.
  6. Web site: Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: . "The coup against Gowon - Part 5" . Dawoduu baq . Nowa Omoigui . April 8, 2015 . 2016-04-02.
  7. Web site: AGM - Auctioneers to Dissolve Board . Daily Champion . Dennis Naku . 15 December 2009 . 2010-03-04.
  8. News: PROFILE: Alfred Diete-Spiff - Nigeria National Conference. 2014-03-17. Nigeria National Conference. 2018-01-17. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2022-10-09 . FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper . 2022-10-27 . en-US.