The immediate-past Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Henry Seriake Dickson, has said that the state was in safe hands under the new leadership of Governor Douye Diri.
The former governor, who called for unity among Ijaw youths across the country, urged them to give the expected support to Gov Diri to deliver on his mandate as governor of the state and the Ijaw nation.
A statement by his media adviser, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, quoted him as having made the comment while receiving the Exemplary Leadership Award from the leadership òf the Central Zone of the Ijaw Youths Council led by its chairman, Comrade Kennedy Olorogun, in Abuja, on Friday.
Dickson explained that he took the deliberate decision to back Senator Diri for the governorship of the state because of his conviction that he was the pioneer national organizing secretary of the Ijaw National Congress has the critical understanding of the challenges of the Ijaw struggle within the Nigerian federation.
RELATED: Bayelsa to Begin Construction of Second Flyover in Yenagoa
“Now by the special intervention of God through the judiciary, Bayelsa is now in safe hands and I want to urge all of you to join hands with the governor who himself understands the challenges of the struggle. And that’s one of the overriding considerations I had in my mind when I supported His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, against all odds.
“Governor Diri for me is a governor of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation. At the very uncertain and trying times such as the times we are managing in this country, the Ijaw nation must be together and you the youth must be at the vanguard of promoting that unity, first amongst yourselves, and then be together to advance the collective ideals of the IYC and INC.
“I call for greater unity on the part of all Ijaw youths because the objectives for which the IYC was set up years ago are still relevant and the IYC as a body will continue to be relevant as far as the struggles and challenges of our people are concerned. So we need a more unified IYC body so I call for understanding, dialogue, I call on all youth leaders to come together and contribute to putting the house together.
“I also call for support for all our leaders particularly, for the new governor of Bayelsa State, a state I have always christened the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation. Bayelsa is in safe hands and the Ijaw nation can now move forward.”
The former Governor, who spoke briefly about his eight year stewardship as Governor said that his administration changed the narrative of development in all critical sectors such as education, health, infrastructure among others under very challenging circumstances.
The Governor, who commended members of his team for their dedication, and Bayelsans for their support, said that it was worthy of note that states in the federation were visiting Bayelsa State to understudy its health insurance scheme which is considered the best in the country.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the IYC Central Zone, Comrade Kennedy Olorogun, commended the Governor for the unprecedented appointment of youths into high and strategic offices under the former Governor.
He said that the IYC leadership decided to present the award to Hon Dickson in recognition of his exploits, his unique leadership style and exemplary developmental antecedents.
