Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Day And Gov. Diri's Continuation Of Dickson's Legacies

 

 By:  Dr. Ebi Nurseman Isaac, FCIA , Fmr. Chief Press Secretary, EKELGA & Administrative Secretary, BRPT, Governor's Lodge, Govt. House

Today is November 2, 2023 and it is the day  of Bayelsa State Annual Thanksgiving Celebration which maiden edition was held on November 2, 2012

His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri commonly referred to as the Miracle Governor of Bayelsa State is marking the 12th Edition. 

As usual, many dignitaries from all works of life were physically present to grace the occasion at the Ecumenical Center, Igbogene, Yenagoa with the theme: 'Blessed Are You'

Notable amongst them were: Pastor Lazarus Muoka - Founder/ General Overseer of The Lord's Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry world-wide who was equally the Guest Speaker and  Fmr. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was among the few that gave a goodwill  message. Fmr. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who was unavoidably absent because of his  engagements outside Nigeria sent in his goodwill message and was delivered to the congregants by the Bayelsa State Governor.

Others include immediate Past  Governor of Bayelsa State (now a serving Senator) - Henry Seriake Dickson with his lovely wife Dr. Rachel Seriake Dickson, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State - Senator Lawrence Erhrudjakpo with  his wonderful wife - Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State - Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.),  Elder Statesman - Ambassador Boladei Godknows Igali, Senator Friday Benson Kombowei and Governor of Rivers State ably represented by the Head of Service in Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke.

The National and State Lawmakers and their spouses,  Bayelsa State *Chief Judge - Justice Matilda Abrakasa,  President of the Customary Court of Appeal - Justice Daniel Ayah, Secretary to State Government - Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, Commissioners, Service Commanders, Royal fathers, President of Ijaw National Congress (INC)-Prof. Benjamin Okaba,  Bayelsa State PDP Chairman - Solomon Agwana and other party stalwarts were also in attendance.

Also present  especially from the religious angle were Very Rev. Father Joseph Opelema - current Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bayelsa State Chapter, Pst. Dr. Tam Seth Eyedoude - Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN), Bayelsa State Chapter, Pst. Amatare Doutimi - Chairman,  Ecumenical Center Management Board  and a host of General Overseers, and Senior Clergy men and women too numerous to mention.

Rendition of The Lord's Chosen Mass Choir was very inspiring and soul lifting which prepared the hearts of all those present to receive the word of God from the Guest Minister - Pastor Lazarus Muoka. At the end of his brief but  very powerful exhortation, the man of God blessed the Governor, his prosperity Government and good people of Bayelsa State and decreed peace to reign before, during and after the forth coming gubernatorial election slated for November 11, 2023 (just about 9 days from today) in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States respectively.

If there is any enduring

legacy of the immediate past  Governor of Bayelsa State Hon. (Dr.) Henry Seriake  Dickson,  it is the legalization of the Worship of the True and only living God in Bayelsa State.

It is on record that immediately Senator Dickson became Governor of Bayelsa State on February 14th 2012, he sent an Executive Bill on BAYELSA State Annual Thanksgiving Day to the State House of Assembly. 

The Honorable Speaker then Rt. Hon Benson Konbowei Friday (now a serving Senator) and his Honorable members of Bayelsa State House of Assembly (BSHA) quickly passed it and was signed into Law by the Governor thus making it legally and mandatory for all Bayelsans all over the world to set aside every 2nd Day of November to  thank and appreciate the Almighty God. If 2nd November falls on working day (like this Year's Edition)  it is automatically declared a Public Holiday. 

Since then, the State Government and the good people of Bayelsa State has been consistently observing it. 

November 2nd 2019 was the  8th and last edition before Governor Dickson  handed over power and mantle of leadership to Gov. Douye Diri on  February 14, 2020 and that celebration took place  at the Ecumenical Centre (also built by Dickson's Restoration Government for the Christian  Community in Bayelsa State). 

Beside this, Governor Dickson was  having Daily Morning Devotion in the Governor's Lodge, State Government Monthly Last Friday Fasting/ Prayer Programme, State Government Monthly Praise Night etc of which my humble self ( Pst. Ebi Nurseman Isaac) and Pst. Moroyei Mounx, S A 1 to the Governor on Religious Affairs were the major key players and Coordinators.

By the grace of God, on the instruction and approval of the Governor through the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Affairs, I  prepared the Weekly Morning Devotion List,  Monthly Fasting/ Prayer  Program including the themes and prayer points, invite Guest Speakers which were top religious men including General Overseers across Nigeria and signed the Invitation Letters to enable the Government House Security Personnel at the Gate including DSS  allow everyone invited to enter Government House. 

Others who were part of the Government House Restoration Prayer Team include: Pst. Hardy Theophilus, Mr. Meeting Okpeke, Rev.  Godspower Asingba -current Special Adviser to  Governor Diri on Religious Affairs,  Rev.(Mrs.) Helen Boroni as she was called then and Rev. Previous  I. Precious. 

I will not fail to mention Pastor S. S John Peters the then S A to the Governor on Religious Affairs,  Bishop Doutimi  Egbegi and Pastor David Yalah the then  Chaplain and Administrator, Government House Chapel respectively when it comes to the Monthly Praise Night. I will not also fail to mention Evangelist Abraham, Sister Gloria, Brother Endurance and the rest who were the  special Vocalists and organist during all these programs. 

The introduction of the worship of God by  Henry Seriake Dickson and his wife Dr. Rachel Dickson in Government House  and more especially and significantly the continuity of it by his successor Gov. Douye Diri and his Deputy,  Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo is highly commendable at a time where men and women in positions of authority and power all over the world (with the exception of the immediate past President of USA - Donald Trump and few others) are making laws/ policies and decrees against God, His worship and His Word (the Bible). 

Remember, it was George Washington the First President of United States of America (USA) that said " It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible" 

Fmr. Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson, his wife Dr. Rachel Seriake Dickson and all members of the Restoration Government will definitely be remembered for good for promoting God in governance.

By the same token, the current Governor - Senator Douye Diri, his wife Dr. Gloria Douye Diri will equally be blessed and remembered for good now and generations to come for sustaining all these enduring legacies of his predecessor.

Once again, I humbly counsel Local Government Chairmen, Governors, Presidents and Heads of Government all over the world  to apply the saying of the first President of USA which I quoted above and emulate Bayelsa State Government in bringing God to the affairs of governance.

Dr. Ebi Nurseman Isaac, Fmr. Chief Press Secretary, EKELGA, Executive Sec., BRPT, Govt.House & Administrative Secretary to the SA1 to the  Governor on Religious Affairs