Former governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson has donated N10 million to the Goldcoast Dickson Cancer Centre, founded in memory of his late mum.
The donation made under the auspices of the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation is to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of Mama Goldcoast Dickson.
Announcing the donation in a press statement on Saturday, the former governor said that the money would ”be used to support those in need of urgent medical attention starting with those who are in hospitals and who are finding it difficult to pay for their medical care as the technical team and trustees decide.”
The statement reads in full: ”Today is the 2nd anniversary of the passing on of our mother Madam GoldCoast Dickson (Mama Gogo) who joined the Saints Triumphant in 2018.
”The first remembrance of her passing was on the 8th of August last year and today is the second remembrance anniversary.
”I appreciate the messages I have already received from friends and well-wishers and I thank all the pastors who have been praying for me and the family.
”Today, because of the COVID19 situation, her remembrance is being done quietly and is strictly a family event. I have asked all members of the family, her children, grandchildren, in-laws etc to observe a fast and to pray to God for the continuous and peaceful repose of her good soul.
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”I will lead those in Abuja in a family prayer to break the fast this evening while those at home in Toru-Orua will be led by my younger brother, the amiable Timi Steve Dickson who will lead my other siblings to visit Angiama my mother’s resting place with pastors to say prayers for the repose of her soul and the family.
”Even at Angiama, it will be a purely family event because of the times we are in. I have instructed that there will be no crowd-pulling activities, that COVID19 safety protocols be duly observed and the event be kept as private and as low-key as possible.
”Today’s solemn remembrance reminds us all her children and all those who knew her of her lasting legacies of love, care, compassion, support and respect for fellow human beings.
”These values of service, courage, honour and fear of God that she and my late father instilled in us are what has led all of us this far and we remain grateful.
”I join the family and well-wishers to pray for the continuous repose of her soul and to say that we continue to miss her every day. I had personally hoped that after the hectic and time-consuming business of governance in Bayelsa, at the end of my tenure, I would have her by my side but God knows best and took her earlier. We will continue to thank God for her life.
”Our father’s remembrance is on the 1st of January and we always remember that with several activities culminating in a wrestling competition, the Nanaye Dickson wrestling tournament which has been going on for the past nine years.
”She was particular about his remembrance activities and now she too has gone and must be remembered. It is a family tradition that has been passed down which we are keeping. We are all what God and our parents have made us to be and must honour them in life and in death. Remembrance and prayers for continuous repose to our beloved parents are necessary.
”I also want to thank all former Presidents and Heads of State who attended her funeral and first remembrance service in person and by representation. I thank my egbon, the Vice President who attended the event with his wife, the SGF who represented President Buhari, Governors, Ministers, National Assembly members, religious leaders, Traditional Rulers, members of my administration and other dignitaries who made time to come for the event. I thank them for the honour they gave to my family and my departed mother and I pray when they are in need of honour, honour shall be their portion.
”As most people know at her first remembrance I also launched the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation which is sponsoring the Goldcoast Dickson Cancer Centre and I thank those who attended and donated, particularly Former President Obasanjo who chaired the event, General Abdulsalami Abubakar who chaired the launch, my elder brother President Jonathan who attended, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Abacha family who was represented by Mohammed Abacha, my brother Governors, Governor Okowa of Delta State and Governor Bagudu of Kebbi state respectively and others who sent messages of solidarity; Bayelsa and Ijaw leaders, traditional rulers of the Niger Delta led by King Alfred Diete Spiff, my fathers the Awujale of Ijebu land, the Ooni of Ife and representation from the Shehu of Borno and the Oba of Lagos.
”With the funds generously donated, we hope to begin the construction of the cancer centre as soon as we have some normalcy. While thanking those who donated, whose proceeds are all kept and recorded, we remain focused on the need for early detection, enlightenment and counselling, we call on institutions and governments to collaborate because it is important to have treatment capacity, which we presently do not have and is very costly. We also call on those institutions and individuals who made pledges at the launch to also fulfil their pledges. We are still open to more donations to enable us to achieve the goals of the foundation, which is to have a fully equipped cancer centre in place by the next anniversary of her remembrance, which is August 2021 by the grace of God.
”Now that I am free I will be more involved publicly with the activities of the foundation.
”On this occasion of her anniversary, my foundation has made available the sum of N10 million to be used to support those in need of urgent medical attention starting with those who are in hospitals and who are finding it difficult to pay for their medical care as the technical team and trustees decide.
”In conjunction with the Trustees of the Foundation, this effort will be coordinated by my two wonderful personal physicians who also attend to my family including my late mother, Dr Ernest Aniede, my present physician and Dr Zuobuemi Agada now permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme. My first daughter Miss Pei – Helen Seriake Dickson, my siblings and other children of the family will also be involved in this exercise.
”May God continue to grant her soul eternal rest.”