Foremost
Ijaw musician, King Robert Ebizimor was on Thursday evening killed in a ghastly
motor accident along the Warri/Ughelli highway.
Ebizimor
was on his way from the federal capital, Abuja, to meet up with the
thanksgiving service planned for his community, Angalabiri in Sagbama local
government area of Bayelsa State today.
The
thanksgiving was meant to appreciate God for his survival following the
amputation of one of his legs due to diabetes.
The
car he was travelling in was said to have run under a stationary trailer parked
by the road side. He was said to have died with his driver on spot.
Reacting,
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson while expressing shock at
the death, announced that the maestro would be given a state burial.
He
described the news of the untimely and painful demise of the legendary singer
as a deep shock, sadness and with total disbelief.
The
Governor recalled with nostalgia, his personal relationship with the legendary
and amiable singer, whom, according to him, gave his all to the growth and
advancement of culture through his songs and the Ijaw nation.
Governor
Dickson, who appointed the Late music maestro as his Special Adviser on Culture
and Ijaw National Affairs, on assumption of office, noted with satisfaction,
the role of King Ebizimor had played in promoting and propagating the cultural
and traditional values of the Ijaw people, stressing that, his highly
instructive and inspirational lyrics would be greatly missed by all true Ijaw
men and women.
Also
reacting to the news, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, described the
news of the demise of an Ijaw icon and musical maestro as shocking and almost
unbelievable.
"To
the IYC and the entire Ijaw Nation, the death of King Robert Ebizimor is a huge
loss and marks the end of a chapter of musical exploit in promoting the
Niger-Delta struggle. King Ebizimor used his music to hugely promote Ijaw
struggle and created awareness all over Ijaw nation especially those at the
hinterland. He was one of the heroes of the Niger Delta struggle and the
struggle would miss him.
"The
IYC commiserate with the entire Ebizimor family of Sagbama Local Government
Area and the government and people of Bayelsa State on the death of the Ijaw
icon. They should take solace in the fact that while King Ebizimor may have
departed this world, but the ideas he propagated during his lifetime would live
forever!"