He is the Mwokozi of Toru-Orua

It is often said that a tree cannot be a forest. This universally acceptable cliche does not hold true in a few circumstances. Upon the debris of the Ottoman Empire sprung Mohammed Ali who built a well-trained army, developed education, agriculture and brought Egypt to prominence in more ways than one: Indeed he was a sophisticated leader whose towering influence outlived his era. Mohammed Ali was one tree that became a forest. Ali was a synonym for modernity.

Otto Von Bismarck-was a German statesman credited with the unification of Germany in 1871. He was one of the significant political leaders of modern Germany. The man of Iron and blood, as he was fondly called, was a tree that constituted a forest. From the Cape Coast, the anti-apartheid statesman, Nelson Rolihalhla Mandela rose to stardom in 1994 after 27years of incarceration. Mendela’s legacy was strewn in the mould of Martin Luther King Jnr. of the United State. Luther and Mandela are two figures that can make a big forest of rights activism. They epitomize the struggle for emancipation of Africans in all forms of discrimination, racial separation and apartheid.

Here in Bayelsa State, Toru-Onua is a far-flung community located in the brackish creeks and estuaries of the River Nun in present day Sagbama LGA. It is Until recently, the Toru-Orua community lacked basic social amenities such as good roads, health facilities, clean water, well-equipped schools and power supply.

As at 2013, more than 60% of the buildings in the community were mud houses. Even the zinc houses were poorly built, with little or no ventilation. Power supply was a luxury. Only few privileged persons could power their residences with petrol. The distance from Sagbama town to Toru-Orua was considered too far to extend power cables to communities like Bolou-Orua, Toru-Orua, Angalabiri and other towns. Apart from water sourced from few boreholes, clean water was a luxury. With no good roads connecting the neighbouring towns and villages,

It was in this sleepy development-starved agrarian community that the great man, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson was born. This piece will not belabour the narratives surrounding his rise to power but suffice it to say that this great son of Toru-Orua can be described as a tree that has become a forest.

His ascendancy to political relevance began with his patriotic zeal of serving the nation as a police officer. Every great leader has an obligation to serve his nation, says Confucius. As a trained lawyer, he identified with the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, the Ijaw National Congress. He served as its Legal Adviser sometime in the past. Senator Henry Seriake Dickson also served Bayelsa State as the Chief Law Officer – the Attorney General, and in that capacity; he carried out sweeping reforms in the Ministry of Justice. At this point, he was well-equipped to take on the task of leadership at a higher level.

It is understandable why the six-footer Senator was readily identified as a material for governorship. He was the first governor of Bayelsa State who occupied that position for eight years.

HSD as he is fondly addressed prioritized human capital development. HSD embarked on a policy of opening-up the Senatorial Districts through the construction of Senatorial Roads. He completed the Ogba Nembe road, which was a partnership between SPDC and the Federal Government. He turned his attention to Bayelsa West. On Christmas Day 2017, Governor Dickson and his entourage drove to Aleibiri as the first phase of constructing the Sagbama-Ekeremor road. The road was subsequently taken to Ekeremor main town. All the nearby communities such as Angalabin, Ofoni etc have access to the Sagbama - Ekeremor road.

HSD established the University of Africa in 2016, located in Toru-Onua to drag development to the community. Today, the University has fulfilled its mission of human capital development. The University has opened-up the community to lecturers, students, small scale business people and consultants who have become partners.

Senator Dickson’s love for human capital development as not in doubt. In 202, HSD demonstrated his love for education to a new level. He founded a private University – the famous Hensard University, Toru-Onua, Hensard University is the first Private University in Bayelsa State. It is crowning glory of a man who has used his official capacity to establish 80% of the tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State.

HSD is a well-grounded community leader who has empowered more than 97% of community dwellers in Toru-Orua, Angalabiri, Aleibiri, Angiama, Eledebiri and other communities in Sagbama Local Government Area and beyond. The traditional Institution was not left out. Till date, Dickson frequently consults most of the traditional rulers in Sagbama and Ekeremor LGAs. His pragmatic zeal to transform his immediate environment became a powerful motivation for rapid rural development in all its ramifications.

His respect for Chiefs, and traditional rulers extends beyond Bayelsa State. Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has positively impacted his community such that no visible facet of development can be mentioned without reference to him. In terms of infrastructural development Dickson is first class. He is also an epitome of unity and Integrity of Toru-Orua. In his personal and official capacity, he provides empowerment for hundreds of people. Recently, the Henry Dickson Foundation provided financial support for students, cutting across several strata of the educational system.

The palace of Melchizedek is a testament of a man who though, steeped in traditions and culture, practices Christianity as an article of faith and practical living. Rolled together, Senator Dickson aptly fits the description of a tree that has become a forest. His transformative zeal and propensity for development resonates well with most of his followers and friends. In Swahili, Senator Dickson aptly fits the title Mwokozi "saviour" of Toru-Orua.

Idumange John - a disciple of Dickson writes from Port Harcourt