By: Dr. Ebi Nurseman Isaac, FCIA , Fmr. Chief Press Secretary, EKELGA & Administrative Secretary, BRPT, Governor's Lodge, Govt. House
Today is November 2, 2024 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 13th Edition.
The question is, why is Senator Douye Diri referred to as ' Miracle Governor'? It is because of the dramatic and miraculous answer to his favour of a less than 3mins prayer of the Founder / General Overseer of The Lord's Chosen CRM World- wide - Pastor Lazarus Muoka in a caravan during the Ministry's Mgbidi Crusade at Imo State.
As usual, many dignitaries from all works of life were physically present to grace the occasion at the Ecumenical Center, Igbogene, Yenagoa.
Notable amongst them were former President Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan represented by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, immediate past governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, former military administrators of the state. Col. Edor Obi (rtd) and Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd).
Also in attendance were two former governors of Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff and Chief Rufus Ada-George, serving and former National Assembly members, Head of the Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson Jack, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commision, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and one of his predecessors, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe.
General Overseer of Royal House of Grace, Apostle David Zilly-Aggrey was the Guest Minister for this Year's Edition who emphasized on the need to appreciate God for the creation of Bayelsa State and continual development of the state by successive administrations up till this present one.
Others were former Deputy Governors Peremobowei Ebebi and Werinipre Seibarugu, religious leaders, chairman of the state’s traditional rulers council, King Bubaraye Dakolo and other royal fathers as well as musician Inetimi Odon popularly called Timaya.
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 1 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
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