Dickson: Epitome of Ijaw Nationalism

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson is a name that seats well with history. In Ijaw history, his name will continue to resonate in all the clans of the Ijaw nation. He is an Ijaw patriot, indeed a nationalist after the non-violent variety of Mahatma Gandhi

HSD started out as a police officer. He became a lawyer and then played a huge role in the Ijaw National Congress. He was appointed Attorney General & Commissioner for justice in Bayelsa State. He was elected as a member representing the Ekeremo/Sagbama Federal Constituency where he made robust contributions to law making at the Federal level. It was on the basis of his robust record of performance that endeared him to power holders, which catapulted him to be elected Governor of Bayelsa State. Since 1999, it was only he that was not elected twice but also completed a second tenure as a governor of Bayelsa State.

On assumption of office as Governor of Bayelsa State, the ideology that Yenagoa is the cradle of the Ijaw nation was firmly established. It was he who referred to Yenagoa as the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation, a reaffirmation that like the Jews, Yenagoa is home for all Ijaw people. This ideology triggered a patriotic fervor in all Bayelsa people. This ideology was the corner stone of all his plans, policies and programmes.

Dickson reflected very profoundly on the contributions of the Ijaw nation to the Nigerian State, especially in oil and gas. He asserted without equivocation that by virtue of her contributions to the Nigerian nation, the Ijaw people symbolize the ligament binding the nation together. The truism is that without the liquid gold from the Niger Delta, the real essence of our unity and stability would have been called to question.

The first pragmatic step was the establishment of a separate Ministry – the Ministry of Ijaw National Affairs. The Ministry was charged to be committed to matter concerning the short and long–term interest of the Ijaw nation in Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa–Ibom, Cross River, Ondo, and Rivers States. This gesture bonded the Ijaws across the States, which Senator Dickson protected zealously.

Former Governor Dickson introduced the Ijaw language in the school curriculum of Bayelsa State. Dozens of teachers were given scholarship to teach the language. He commissioned intellectuals to produce books in Nembe, Ogba, Epie–Atissa, Kolokuma, and other variants of the Ijaw language to facilitate the learning and teaching of Ijaw language. The committee was chaired by Emeritus Professor, E.J. Alagoa. It was an era of Ijaw patriotism and resorgimento.

The second visible step HSD took was the spread of appointive offices to all Ijaw States in Nigeria. In the restoration administration, security advisers, Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistants and other positions were given to Ijaws in Rivers, Akwa – Ibom, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Lagos States. It was the highest level of political inclusivity. The Restoration administration superintended by Senator Dickson accommodated in some measure, Ijaws from all States. This was a uniting factor among the Ijaw people. At no time has any leader contemplated this paradigm of leadership. It was indeed a master stroke that reinforced the bond of solidarity and strength of Nigeria’s fourth largest ethnic nationality.

The establishment of the Ijaw National Academy was an institutional instrument to groom youths to become leaders. It was established to prepare Ijaw youths to fit into the intensively competitive educational system. The academy was established in accordance with the State of emergency Dickson declared in the education sector. At INA, students were admitted students from all Ijaw States in the Niger Delta and beyond. Admission was also strictly on merit. Teaching wa grounded on academics, culture and morals.

HSD also designed the sacred signs and symbols of the Ijaw nation by producing the Bayelsa coat of arms and the flag. He was the first Ijaw leader who believed that the Ijaw nation should project its identity. A law was passed in 2012 to give it the necessary legality. The coat of arms represents the fishing activities and traditional occupation of the Ijaw people; the green vegetation, the shark – represents the aquatic mastery and strength of the people. The crocodile represents the rugged and amphibious nature of the Ijaw people. The Leopard denotes strength, agility, resilience and intellect of the people while the palm tree signifies the agricultural endowment of the people. The oil rig signifies that oil was first discovered in Ijawland.

The flag has four colours, white, blue, red, and green. The white colour represents purity, honour and truth; the blue represents the colour of water and its resources; the red colour represents the memory and sacrifices of our heroes while green represents the vegetation. The stars represent the hopes and aspirations of the Ijaw people.

Dickson’s patriotism has never been in doubt. He built the Heroes park near the Ijaw House to honour Ijaw heroes. He set up a committee to find d the grave of Adaka Boro in Lagos. He brought the remains of the hero to rest in Yenagoa.

Dickson promoted the Ijaw traditional dressing. He declared that men and women should be decked with Ijaw traditional attires every Friday. Since then, this has been the practice in Bayelsa State–cradle of the Ijaw ethnic nationality.

His leadership promoted the Ijaw culture and tradition in all facets of life. Senator Henry Dickson personifies the strength, integrity, courage and hope of the Ijaw nation. Like Emperor Menelik of Ethiopia and W.E.B Dubois who promoted Black Nationalism, Dickson stood on any issue that could promote the Ijaw identity. Beneath the veil of his policies and actions flowed patriotism and Ijaw nationalism. Senator Henry Seriake Dickson is a personification of Ijaw nationalism. He is one leader who inspires, motivates and shows direction, a leader not lacking in patriotism and a man the Ijaw nation can trust.

Compiled by our correspondent
Bayelsa Reporters