The POWER of DELIVERY Is a Compilation of Selected Extempore Remarks, and the first of a Trilogy, by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Nigeria
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DICKS The POWER of DELIVERY is a compilation of selected extempore remarks, and the first of a trilogy, by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. ON In this book, the reader will encounter the robustness of Governor Dickson's DICKSON remarks delivered extempore with striking ability to inspire and engage its audience in a manner that is most compelling. Governor Dickson is an orator of a different hue. He speaks authoritatively with penetrating intellectual depth THE POWER OF typical of most great leaders in the world, both past and present. DELIVERY Restoration Leaps Forward GOVERNOR HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON A PROFILE THE POWER OF DELIVERY Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in Nigeria has, by his performance in office, underscored the critical role of leadership in strategic restructuring and effective governance. He has changed the face of development, sanitized the polity, and encouraged participatory governance. The emerging economic prosperity in Bayelsa is a product of vision and courage. Dickson, 48, is an exceptional leader whose foresight on the diversification of the state’s economy beyond oil and gas to focus more on tourism and agriculture holds great promise of economic boom. A lawyer, former Attorney-General of Bayelsa State and member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, where he served as the Chairman, House Committee on Justice. His star was further on the rise when he was elected governor of Bayelsa State by popular acclamation later in 2012. He has been an agent of positive change, challenged the status quo and re-invented the architecture of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson governance in a peaceful and resourceful environment. Governor of Bayelsa State Today we have laid the foundation for the building of a new Bayelsa and I assure you that with what you have done and what you have demonstrated, today you have laid the foundation of the building of which I will with your cooperation build a new and prosperous Bayelsa for all of us. DICKSON THE POWER OF DELIVERY Restoration Leaps Forward Compiled and Revised by: Daniel IworisoMarkson Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor Edited by: Sully Abu Dr. Jeanee Gibson ISBN: 9789789380008 © 2014 Henry Seriake Dickson No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system or transmied in any form or by any means without prior wrien permission from the publisher CONTENTS PREFACE 2 PROLOGUE 13 EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GOOD EDUCATION Speech delivered during the inauguration of a task force to assess educational infrastructure 14 MEETING OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE Remarks at an interactive session with 100 graduates of the Bayelsa Merit Scholarship Award scheme 18 THE NOBILITY OF OUR TEACHERS Remarks at the 2012 World Teachers Day celebration 23 NDU MUST LIVE UP TO ITS BILLING Speech delivered during Governor Henry Seriake Dicksonʹs first formal visit to the Niger Delta University 28 THE POWER OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 02 ECONOMY CHARGE TO CONTRACTORS: LET US BE PARTNERS IN BAYELSAʹS PROGRESS Remarks at a meeting with SETRACO NIG LTD, MOREMONIG LTD, Julius Berger PLC, ENERCO PLC and Eagle Builders 40 BAYELSA IS RIPE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT Remarks during a courtesy call by the Polish ambassador April 13, 2012 43 OUR POWER ROAD MAP Remarks at the presentation of interim report by commiee on power generation and distribution 48 WE MUST BRING SANITY TO THE PETROLEUM SECTOR Speech at the inauguration of the Petroleum Products Monitoring Task Force 51 LAND USE MUST BE PLANNED AND CONTROLLED Charge to the Bayelsa State Land and Allocation commiee 53 AGRICULTURE IS A PRIORITY FOR BAYELSA Address during a courtesy visit by the Minister of State for Agriculture 58 BDIC IS TO DRIVE OUR DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Address at the inauguration of the board of the Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation 61 DEVELOPMENT MUST START AT THE GRASSROOTS Remarks at the inauguration of 32 rural development centers in Yenagoa 66 ALL MUST SACRIFICE FOR BAYELSAʹS GOOD Remarks during inspection of site for second flyover bridge at TombiaTegwe junction in Yenagoa 70 THE POWER OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 03 WE PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT, NOT SHARE MONEY Remarks at the formal launch of a Women Empowerment Programme in Yenagoa 95 OUR INTERNAL REVENUE MUST INCREASE Remarks on signing into law of the Appropriation Bill 100 BAYELSA IS RIPE FOR INVESTMENT Address at the 20th international conference on Small and Medium Enterprises preevent luncheon with business stakeholders 103 AMAA HAS TO BE PRIVATE SECTOR DRIVEN Speech given during a fund raising dinner at the Civic Centre 115 LAW AND SOCIETY WE ARE MAKING BAYELSA UNSAFE FOR CRIMINALS Remarks at the signing of the bill on Kidnapping and Other Allied Offences into law 118 WE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRIME AND CRIMINALITY Remarks at the commissioning of 15 gun boats to check sea piracy 112 OUR GOAL IS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL Address at the inauguration of the Health Insurance Commiee 126 DEALING WITH THE MENACE OF INSECURITY Remarks during the visit of the Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba 131 GHOSTS MUST DISAPPEAR FROM OUR PAYROLL Remarks on the occasion of the biometric data capturing exercise 134 THE POWER OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 04 PRISONS SHOULD REFORM NOT CONDEMN Remarks during the visit of Minister of Interior 138 ACCOUNTABILITY IS OUR ARTICLE OF FAITH Address while inaugurating the Verification & Audit Exercise Commiee 140 A NEW DAY FOR BAYELSA LET THIS BE A NEW BEGINNING FOR BAYELSA Remarks at Easter day church service at the ToruOrua Christian centre 147 OUR LONG WALK FOR PEACE AND STABILITY Remarks at the Restoration Grand Rally and Peace Road Walk 150 OUR GOVT IS FOR EVERY BAYELSAN Remarks during a courtesy call by the Okpoama council of chiefs 155 HELP IN TIME OF OUR NEED Remarks to the Aliko Dangoteled presidential commiee on Flood and Rehabilitation 163 PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EU Address during a courtesy visit by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria 167 SALUTE TO COURAGE Governor Henry Seriake Dicksonʹs tribute to late General Owoye Azazi 170 TOMORROW BELONGS TO OUR YOUTH Remarks at the inauguration of the Youth Development Commiee 181 THE POWER OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 05 RUN LOCAL COUNCILS WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY Remarks at the swearing in of two local government chairmen 186 POWER MUST BE ROOTED IN THE PEOPLE Remarks at flagoff of PDP local government election campaigns 189 WHY WE MUST STOP RUMOURS Remarks at the inauguration of the State Public Information Management Commiee 192 THE PECULIAR DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES OF THE NIGER DELTA Remarks during a courtesy call by the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe 196 ADAKA BOROʹS WORTHY EXAMPLE Remarks at 2013 Boro Day celebration 199 THE CHALLENGE THROWN BY ADAKA BORO REMAINS Address at the Colloquium in celebration of Adaka Boro Day 202 LET ALL HANDS BE ON DECK Remarks at the inauguration of the Diaspora Mobilization & Contact Commiee 213 WE MUST BUILD BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING Address to a meeting of Niger Delta monarchs 215 THE PEOPLEʹS RIGHT TO KNOW Address at the 16th edition of monthly transparency briefing 219 GETTING TO BRASS TACKS: OUR FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE OR MAR Remarks during a ʹThank Youʹ visit to Brass local government area 223 THE POWER OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 06 OUR GOVT WILL BE FAIR TO ALL Remarks at the Thank You rally at Nembe local government area 232 WE MUST SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT Remarks during a thank you tour of Ogbia local government area 257 OUR SOLIDARITY TOUR SHOWS OUR CONCERT WITH THE PEOPLE Opening remarks at the 30th executive council meeting 265 A CALL TO DUTY Remarks at the swearingin of two special advisers 269 NO DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT PEACE Speech at the conferment of the chieaincy title of Ogbogbo Olotu i of Oguan kingdom 272 WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO REACH THE PROMISE LAND Remarks at the monthly transparency initiative press briefing for the month of December 2013 275 OUR CHARGE TO IJAW YOUTH Remarks at the formal introduction of the new executive of the Ijaw Youth Council 289 THE TIES THAT BIND US Remarks during visit to the Fidipote Royal House in Ijebu Ode land, Ogun state 296 THE POWER OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 07 PREFACE The challenges of leadership and governance as they relate to delivery on policies and programmes form the kernel of the book, Dickson: The Power of Delivery. It is a fascinating work which aempts to lay bare the daunting task of repositioning the development track in the state as well as the triumphs, chronicling the stewardship of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson as the Governor of Bagels State as evident in this compilation speeches delivered extempore by the man fondly referred to as the countryman governor. From the beginning to the end, the character and vision of the governor reflects sharply on the issues of development in the various sectors of the state economy. Understandably so because of the obvious hurry to develop the state and make impact on the lives of the people and indeed as a democratic imperative. The Power of Delivery is thus arranged in sequence to explain the raison detre for the various development initiatives executed by the government and the achievements recorded. Starting from the establishment of institutions and processes, particularly on the need for prudence and accountability, the book THE POWER OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 08 logically presents the way and manner developmental projects were initiated and consummated resulting in marked transformation by the state government within a short period of time.