Alfred Diete-Spiff

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]

Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff
Military Governor of Rivers State
In office 28 May 1967 – July 1975
Preceded by	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Eastern Region)
Succeeded by	Zamani Lekwot
Personal details
Born	(1942-07-30) 30 July 1942 (age 82)

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]

References

1. "PROFILE: Alfred Diete-Spiff". Nigeria National Conference. 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
2. "Nigeria States". WorldStatesmen. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
3. Sam Onwuemeodo (November 28, 1999). "His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff , Former Military Governor of Rivers State, Reflects on Invasion of His Homeland". Vanguard Interview. Archived from the original on 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
4. Kazeem Akintunde and Belinda Mbonu (19 July 2009). "In the News". Newswatch. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
5. "Between Rome And Port Harcourt". National Network. January 19–25, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-04.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
6. Nowa Omoigui (April 8, 2015). "Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975:". Dawoduu baq. "The coup against Gowon - Part 5". Retrieved 2016-04-02.
7. Dennis Naku (15 December 2009). "AGM - Auctioneers to Dissolve Board". Daily Champion. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
8. "PROFILE: Alfred Diete-Spiff - Nigeria National Conference". Nigeria National Conference. 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
9. "FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper". 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2022-10-27.