THE SOUL OF THE IJAW NATION This plaque is like no other; it is a very special plaque, profound in its significance. In it is engraved the sacred signs, colours, aspirations and symbols not only of Bayelsa state, but also of the entire Ijaw nation. Bayelsa State is the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation and our people are resilient and unconquerable. It is also the headquarters of the Ijaw people and the Epicentre of the Niger Delta, with all of its contradictions and potentials of the Niger Delta. It represents the soul of the Ijaw nation and in it you will see the first oil well discovered in Nigeria with the gas still flaring. You have the palm oil showcasing our agricultural abundance. You can also see the Ijaw man and his wife in a canoe still going about fishing as we have done since our ancestors settled here. Sadly there are no more fishes to be caught as a result of the pollutions from oil exploration activities. As you know, the crocodile is the master of the land and the sea, while the leopard showcases the strength of the Ijaw man. The great white shark, you see in the plaque is called Ofruma-pepe by our people and it emblematic of our aquatic splendour. The white shark only surfaces when the sea is roughest. Finally, in the background is the rising sun, indicating a brighter future for the Ijaw nation. Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson On the significance of the Bayelsa State Coat of Arms. Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson Shares His Thoughts on © 2018. Courtesy the offices of: The Deputy Chief of Staff RESTRUCTURING The Chief Press Secretary Speechwriter to the Governor Nigeria Copyright © 2018 Bayelsa State Government All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission in writing to the publisher. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [email protected] First Published in Nigeria by Flaming Hypermedia Communications Ltd. Cover design + Artistic direction Shodayo Olorunsogo On behalf of the government the Southern Governors Forum of Thank you Mr. Chairman for rights, a lot of people may think of and the good people of Bayelsa which Governor Akinwunmi i n v i t i n g m e t o g i v e m y mineral rights. But minority rights State, I thank the leadership of the Ambode is our Chairman and my perspectives on how best we can are far bigger and more all- N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y a n d dear brother, Governor David protect minority rights. How best encompassing than property particularly the leadership of the Umahi of Ebonyi is also a co-chair. can we do so than by supporting rights and even environmental Senate, the Chairman and indeed Again, on behalf of my colleagues restructuring? The rights of all rights because we have so-called all the members of the Southern of the South-South Governors Nigerians can be best preserved minorities in non-mineral and S e n a t o r s F o r u m f o r y o u r Forum and the Southern Nigeria and protected within the context non-oil producing environment, thoughtfulness, dedication to duty Governors Forum, I bring you of a restructured, truly federal, yet they qualify to be minorities. and service to our country by greetings and felicitations. truly egalitarian and democratic Being Nigerians, they are entitled creating a platform like this for the Nigeria. to the freedom that our laws and discussion of clearly one of the We think that this is a great C o n s t i t u t i o n p r o v i d e a n d most topical issues facing our initiative, which I believe, Mr. I have not come here to guarantee for all. country today. Chairman and members of this deliver any lecture, not being a forum, that no sooner than we professor like our host. I have only The next question about On that account, I bring you leave here, contacts should be come to raise some issues that minorities would be: are we greetings, warm felicitations, established to see how those of us will provoke our thoughts and talking in the ethnic sense, or are support and solidarity from who are members of the Southern hopefully provide some clarity of we referring to minorities in terms Bayelsa because we are very Governors Forum will also thoughts on some of these issues of sexual orientation, political serious about this issue of collaborate with you in this great as we move forward. views or religious beliefs? restructuring, and you have endeavour so that we can talk to created this national, non- ourselves and among ourselves, to You have asked me to talk I know also that, contrary to partisan platform to discuss it. understand and break down the about protection of minority what a number of people say, our barriers of misunderstanding and rights and I was thinking of how to country has actually done very Let me also thank you as misrepresentation that have define the word 'Minority.' Very well in the area of protection and Chairman of the South-South b e d e v i l e d t h i s i s s u e o f often and particularly in our recognition of the rights of the Governors Forum. I also co-chair restructuring. context, when you talk of minority “so-called” minorities in the area 01 -Restructuring Nigeria Restructuring Nigeria- 02 SUCCINCTLY DICKSON! SUCCINCTLY DICKSON! There is need for cessation of hate speeches around the country. Restructuring simply means a call for constitutional reforms, an amendment of the laws of this country to guarantee a more stable and Wherever they are coming from, that has to stop. There is“ need for us to inclusive country, and“ for a return to the original founding principles of know that whatever citizens of this country are saying or groups within our“ nation. In other words, it is the return to federalism as agreed to by Nigeria“ are saying, should be done within the context of a strong and the founding fathers of our country. Restructuring does not mean united Nigeria. It is on that premise we can now have the serious secession. The call for restructuring does not mean a call for the break- conversation on how we can reorganise ourselves. up of Nigeria. I am aware that because the term restructuring has been overused and over flogged, right from the days of NADECO and now From my understanding, those who are making a case for IPOB, there has been some apprehension as to what this concept of restructuring are simply saying that there are things that can be restructuring really and truly means. Another word for restructuring if adjusted and“ done differently even though we all belong to the same “ “ you like is reorganisation. Let us reorganise and readjust our structures country“ – Nigeria. That is why I support it. To me, the ongoing call for and systems, within the context of a united Nigeria. Let me be very clear, reorganisation is being made in good faith. All that is required is for this conversation about restructuring is not to the detriment of a united leadership to rise to the occasion and not indulge in some kind of blame Nigeria. As a matter of fact, those who are making a case for game. restructuring are actually the true believers in the Nigerian Project. Selected Quotes from different Speeches on Restructuring Selected Quotes from different Speeches on Restructuring by His Excellency, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson by His Excellency, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson 03 -Restructuring Nigeria Restructuring Nigeria- 04 o f p o l i t i c a l o r l e a d e r s h i p that have been Presidents and Restructuring simply means a call connote or necessarily imply. The participation. I say “so-called” Military Heads of State in this for constitutional reforms, an call for restructuring does not because I believe that even in this country, contrary to the language amendment of the laws of this necessarily imply secession, country; the “so-called” minorities they may speak or the religion they country to guarantee a more breakup or disintegration. Its are actually the unstated majority profess, ethnically belong to this stable and inclusive country, and proponents are not less Nigerian of this country. So, if you are out group of so-called minorities, who for a return to the original or less patriotic than others. I there as a so-called minority, or as I have said over and over again founding principles of our nation. t h i n k t h a t p o r t r a y i n g you have subscribed to that are the actual majority. In other words, it is the return to r e s t r u c t u r i n g a s b e i n g propaganda that says you are a federalism as agreed to by the coterminous with secession or minority, or you have created room I also come from a state that founding fathers of our country. disintegration is missing the for people to refer to you as such, just a few years ago had a Restructuring does not mean point.