Seriake Dickson: Political Limelight And The Burden Of Ingratitude

Henry Seriake Dickson was a struggling lawyer , unknown within the political circles of Bayelsa State till shortly after the return to civil rule in 1999. He was a lawyer struggling to make ends meet. His foray into lively politics was comparatively identified. He nevertheless rose and got here to limelight via a mix of private effort, political alliances and circumstances that formed the state’s political panorama.

His early affiliation with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) is instructive. The celebration’s electoral breakthrough in Bayelsa West in 1999 was notable given the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In my evaluation, the unpopularity of the PDP candidate, prevailing public sentiment and native political alignments contributed to that consequence. It can be deceptive to attribute the victory solely to the ingenuity of anyone particular person.

Dickson later joined the PDP, a transfer linked to his relationship with Goodluck Jonathan, who subsequently recalled encouraging him to affix the celebration. When Jonathan turned Governor of Bayelsa State, Dickson was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in 2006. Douye Diri additionally served in that administration as Commissioner for Youth and Sports, though his public-service profession had begun earlier, together with service as Director of the Centre for Youth Development. Their political paths due to this fact predated the later query of gubernatorial succession.

The historical past of Dickson’s political relationships additionally contains King A. J. Turner, publicly described as a former political godfather earlier than their relationship deteriorated. Without presuming the causes of that disagreement, the broader level stays that political careers develop via relationships and alternatives in addition to particular person capacity.

Dickson went on to signify the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency within the House of Representatives and served two phrases as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020. These are substantial achievements. Yet his development additionally benefited from Jonathan’s political help, together with in the course of the circumstances surrounding the PDP governorship nomination in 2012.

Equally, Dickson performed an essential function in Diri’s subsequent development. As governor, he appointed Diri Deputy Chief of Staff and later Principal Executive Secretary. Diri subsequently served within the House of Representatives from 2015 and within the Senate from 2019 earlier than turning into Governor in 2020. Dickson’s help ought to be acknowledged, nevertheless it shouldn’t be taken to imply that Diri’s political identification or profession started with him.

This historical past raises a query concerning the relationship between political mentorship and public workplace: does serving to a successor emerge confer an everlasting proper to private loyalty or affect over the train of government authority? In a constitutional democracy, a governor’s authority derives from the Constitution and the electoral course of, and his major obligation is to the individuals he serves.

In my evaluation, Governor Diri has proven appreciable respect and restraint in his dealings together with his predecessor, apparently within the curiosity of political concord. Some supporters have consequently puzzled what political understanding, if any, existed between the 2. Whatever the reply, gratitude for political help mustn’t diminish the independence or constitutional duties of an elected governor.

The biblical account of King Nebuchadnezzar gives a becoming reflection on pleasure and the bounds of private energy. Surveying Babylon, he declared: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30, KJV). The account describes his humiliation and eventual recognition of God’s sovereignty. He later acknowledged: “And those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:37, KJV).

I invoke this account to not equate Dickson’s circumstances with Nebuchadnezzar’s, however to underscore a lesson related to all leaders: achievement isn’t solitary, and energy isn’t a licence to demand perpetual deference. Political mentorship is finest honoured when those that profit from it are free to train sound judgment, strengthen establishments and serve the general public. Humility and gratitude ought to run in each instructions.

Mr Preye Ebiowei, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Yenagoa.