Alfred Diete-Spiff

Who is Alfred Diete-Spiff?

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

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

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.

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