Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state has attributed his landmark achievements of becoming the first governor to do a straight two term in office to ‘God’s intervention.’
Governor Dickson, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, was quoted to have made the statement when he played host to the set of 1992 Rivers State University of Science and Technology Law students in Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor added that if not for God intervention he would not have been able to break the record of being the first governor to do a straight two term in office.
He described the office of Governor as a glorified prison where rules of officialdom restricted certain kinds of interactions but expressed great relief for friends and acquaintances from his Alma Mater to bring back fond memories and work together to succeed.
“I thank you for your abiding solidarity. This is not the first time individually and collectively you have been here to encourage to support me in all these period that I have remained here as governor yet and in some sense as a glorified prisoner”, he said.
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He noted that God was not through with him yet as he never imagined he was going to become governor of Bayelsa State, but that the Grace and mercies of God took him to where he is now and added that God was still in the business of lifting more and more people up
He observed that it was a difficult task to govern Bayelsa State, emphsising that the more progress he made the more people tried to blackmail him. noting that he had done his best for his people and that when an unbiased history of the developments of the state would be written he was sure to occupy a prominent place.
On the just-concluded governorship election in the state, Governor Dickson accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of compromising the integrity and legitimacy of the outcome of November 16 governorship elections in the state, by colluding with security agencies to concoct results in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He maintained that there was no election as the APC came with prepared results in connivance with INEC and the security agencies who foist it on the people.
He described the outcome of the election as a “Predetermined concoction of figures in the image and likeness of an election but which fell far short of internationally acceptable standards of civility and democratic norms.”
He, however, expressed grave fears that his lofty achievements in the education sector such as the free education programme, education trust fund and the unrivalled health insurance scheme would not be eroded by the opposition government who is determined to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
He added that the outcome of the last electrons, if not redressed, posed a real and present danger and looming possibility of the state being taken backwards and affecting generations of Bayelsans negatively.
He, however, expressed confidence in the ability of the Judiciary to examine the merits of the two cases pending in the courts of appeal and doing justice for the overall benefit of Bsyelsans.
In their separate remarks, Kenneth Chukwuemeka Eke and Chuks Ughuro who spoke on behalf of other classmates, extolled the virtues of Governor Dickson. describing him as a phenomenal and visionary leader, an academic and philosopher whose tenure impacted lives positively and transformed the state.
His classmates recalled that Dickson would forever be remembered not just as governor but as a former active member of the House of Representatives who contributed on the floor of the house for declaration of the doctrine of necessity that saw the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as President of Nigeria despite mounting opposition.
They said Governor Dickson’s signature projects in education, health, social and physical infrastructure such as roads, hospitals have made him proved his detractors wrong, adding that the outcome of the elections would not stsnd the test of time as truth and honesty was sure to prevail over tyranny.
The duo, therefore, admonished the governor not to give up as God had already worked out his salvation with better opportunities waiting for him at the end of his tenure as according to them, “It was not yet over until the keeper and creator of the universe said so.”