DICKS The ART 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 typical of most great leaders in the world, both past and present. THE ART OF DELIVERY The road to restoration GOVERNOR HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON A PROFILE 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. THE ART OF DELIVERY 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 DICKSON THE ART OF DELIVERY The road to restoration 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 P11 ­ PROLOGUE ­ Address on his intention to run for the office of Governor of Bayelsa state P12 ­ INTENTION Text of the address delivered by Hon. Henry Seriake on his intention to run for the office of Governor of Bayelsa state. P24 ­ LOOKING FORWARD ­ Inaugural speech on the occasion of his swearing in as governor of Bayelsa state ­ Remarks on the occasion of a dinner held in his honour and for his deputy ­ Remarks on the occasion of the breaking of 3­day fast and prayer meeting for the restoration of Bayelsa state THE ART OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 02 P44 ­ BUDGETS OF RESTORATION ­ 2013 Budget ­ Address at the presentation of the 2013 Appropriation Bill for the Governorʹs assent P59 ­ ACCOUNTABILITY: THE TRANSPARENCY BRIEFINGS ­ Transparency briefing for the month of January 2012 ­ Transparency briefing for the months of March and April 2012 ­ Transparency briefing for the month of May 2012 ­ Transparency briefing for the month of June 2012 ­ Transparency briefing for the month of July 2012 ­ Transparency briefing for the month of November 2012 ­ Transparency briefing for the months of February and March 2013 143 ­ AGENCIES SET UP TO DELIVER RESULTS ­ Inauguration of the board of the Bayelsa state construction and dredging company ­ Presentation of cheques for NECO and WAEC and inauguration of education inspection commission ­ Inauguration of the commiee on youth development and empowerment ­ Inauguration of the pensions and gratuity commiee ­ Inauguration of 12­member board of the Bayelsa state Agricultural Development Company Limited ­ Inauguration of the State Empowerment and Expenditure For Result Project (SEEFOR) commiee ­ Inauguration of the Bayelsa State Commiee on Entrepreneurial Capacity Development ­ Inauguration of the Governing Council of the Niger Delta University THE ART OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 03 P143 ­ BOOSTING TOURISM · AMAA awards fund­raising dinner in Abuja · A speech at the 2013 speech edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Award P154 ­ IJAW RESTORATION ­ Inauguration of the newly elected Ijaw National Congress Executive Council ­ Remarks at the state banquet to mark Major Adaka Boro Day ­ Address on the occasion of the 2012 World Ijaw Day Celebration ­ Address at an interactive meeting with leaders of the Ijaw nation in the state ­ Address at the commissioning of Izon­Wari building in the state P176 ­ AGENDA FOR DEVELOPMENT ­ Address at the launch of the new transport scheme in the state ­ Address at a 3­day conference of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) ­ Address to Bayelsa state civil servants ­ Address at a retreat organised by government in conjunction with ASCON for permanent secretaries ­ Address at a meeting with PDP stakeholders at the partyʹs secretariat ­ Address at the presentation of free school uniforms and other materials ­ Address to the National Executive Commiee meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association P236 ­ HONOURING BAYELSAʹS BIRTH ­ Text of the radio broadcast to commemorate the 16th anniversary THE ART OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 04 of the creation of Bayelsa state ­ Remarks at a special thanksgiving service at the King of Glory chapel in Government House ­ Remarks at the presentation of cheques to pensioners P256 ­ WALKING THE TALK ­ AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY: Signing the Bayelsa State Judiciary Autonomy Bill – ­ Remarks to the Universal Basic Education board and others ­ Remarks at the presentation of the N3 billion cheque to SETRACO for the completion of the Ogbia­Nembe road project ­ Remarks during a solidarity visit by Bayelsa state PDP delegation to the new PDP chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muʹazu ­ Remarks and answers to the mediaʹs questions on the local government election at Toru Orua, Sagbama local government area ­ Remarks shortly aer visiting accident victims ­ Remarks at the sending forth of the first batch of trainees to the Songhai farms in Benin Republic (Page 335) ­ Remarks during the courtesy visit by D.G. SMEDAN ­ Speech at the presentation of monthly stipends to the elderly under the Bayelsa State Welfare and Social Security Scheme THE ART OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 05 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 ART OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 06 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. The declaration of emergency in education, for instance, was targeted at addressing the acute shortage in infrastructure and quality in the sector as a necessity in building relevant manpower for the development of the state. This was obviously in realisation that a proper education for the young people is arguably the most important ingredient in the development process. The proclamation of state of emergency in the educational sector was a fiing step by the Restoration Government to address the rot in the educational sector and as we have seen in the last three years, the transformation in the sector had been phenomenal. Additional incentives to boost educational development also had solid backing in the various scholarship awards up to PhD in highly rated institutions locally and abroad. Considering the pivotal role of education in human and societal advancement and in contrast to the abysmal situation inherited by the government in this critical sector, the steps taken by Dickson administration clearly stands out as a welcome development. We also follow through in The Power of Delivery to connect with the bright ideas behind the huge aention devoted to infrastructure provision by the Dickson Administration. The rationale being that development would be beer and faster with infrastructure in place particularly roads and bridges connecting the three senatorial districts of the state. Accordingly, the administration carried out the construction of a total of 350km roads and critical bridges from February 14th 2012 when the administration came on board and they are contributing to the growth of the state economy through inter­ linkages now facilitating easy movement of goods and persons from one location to the other in Bayelsa State. The essential value in The Power of Delivery on governmentʹs policies and programmes also received greater impetus and realism in the THE ART OF DELIVERY BY HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON 07 context of far­sighted development agenda when we take a deep look at the long­term implications of the diversification of the stateʹs economy, by emphasizing the development of tourism and agriculture as the economic future of the state. The understanding being that over­ reliance on oil as the economic mainstay in the state was not a realistic strategy to true development particularly in the face of dwindling revenue and other vagaries in both the international market and in the local condition.