By Ikeddy ISIGUZO

SENATOR Henry Seriake Dickson has presence. Nothing to do with size, a bowler hat or titles.

His presence draws from his words – seasoned, sizzling, and they slice through issues, to bring clarity to them. Some consider him intimidating.

Yes, there are intimidating things though about him. Among them is his strive for the common good which emerges through matters of interest to him and how he presses for their realisation at the Senate where the public has become used to waiting to hear where he stands on critical national issues. Sometimes, they switch off his microphone at the Senate.

He is a politician of character without guile in a sphere where deceit is considered strategic while lies and shamelessness are worn like badge of honour.

Dickson is the man of the moment. He seizes headlines when he speaks. However, he has never been momentary.

He is honest, steadfast, trustworthy, and stays on issues.

His colleagues attest to his character.

Dickson’s intentionality is obvious. In the midst of noise, when he is with crowds, in engagements with colleagues and constituents, he never trades off the essence of his politics which Is service to all who come his way, to all he comes their way.

It Is a credit to his doggedness that he did not join the mass movement of political leaders to the ruling party. He would rather spend close to a decade, working with like minds to secure the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, the newest political party in Nigeria.

Things Dickson are different. The registration of NDC confirms that. The journey began in 2017. Of all reasons, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, refused to register NDC with a claim that NDC’s logo, two fingers raised in celebration of victory, resembled the broom of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

NDC, with “Service to the people”, as its motto, became the first Nigerian political party to be registered by a court of law.

Dickson cited APC’s abuse and disrespect of the country’s diversity” as a key factor in his decision not to look in the direction of APC. He explicitly ruled out joining the APC, stating he would not align himself with a party he believes is leading Nigeria down a dangerous path.

“The NDC will promote an independent judiciary, a free and independent press and ensure the promotion and protection of democratic norms and adherence to the rule of law.

“It is for these reasons that I have chosen to align fully with the NDC as we work together to build a stronger, fairer, and more inclusive Nigeria.

The NDC, which Dickson founded and has been appointed its National Leader, is positioning itself as a viable alternative, promising to prioritise national security, economic reform, and a more equitable distribution of power by “true federalism.”

“In making the decision to go with the NDC, I make it clear that Nigeria must never become a one-party state. It would have been easy for me to join the bandwagon of politicians decamping to the ruling party – the APC, but that was never an option for me.

“My decision is informed by a number of reasons: the APC’s abuse and disrespect of the country’s diversity, its inability to effectively manage national security, and its failure to manage the economy in a manner that protects the welfare of Nigerians, resulting in widespread hunger, poverty, and disillusionment,” Dickson said.

Dickson’s politics rides on principles. His is not politics of comfort and convenience.

What many do not know or tend to ignore, is that Dickson is not new to party-building. How many remember that Dickson was Bayelsa State Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, AD by 1998, and later its National Legal Adviser?

Under him as Chairman of AD in Bayelsa State, the party, he built from scratch and with lean resources, produced a Senator, a Member in the House of Representatives, and three seats in the State House of Assembly in 1999 due to Dickson’s dedication, commitment, and strategy.

Simplicity, accessibility, consultation, consensus-building, and accommodation of all are the bedrock of his politics. He abhors politics of violence, intimidation, repression and has always fought against it.

Once principles are compromised, Dickson leaves.

His departure from AD is an example. Apart from the crisis of the AD national leadership, especially in the South West, Dickson had also disagreed with the national leadership of the AD after Chief Bola Ige, the Attorney-General of the Federation, a key member of AD, instituted the onshore/offshore case which Dickson felt was a betrayal of the interests of Bayelsa, the Ijaw Nation and the Niger Delta. With that, he ruled his membership of AD as no longer tenable.

His politics Is always about the people.

Why did he leave Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party under which he won his elections to the House of Representatives, Governorship, and Senate?

“PDP left me,” Dickson said about what he called “a painful exit”, after years of scuttled efforts to keep the party together.

“When the PDP lost the presidency in 2015, I devoted a lot of time as Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee, working with others to galvanise and reposition the party, its governors and leaders. We stood our ground to re-organise and save the party and position it for the 2019 election, which we believe we won,” he said

Yet, the more he worked on party reconciliation, heading the committee for years, the more he found out entrenched interests that existed to see the end of PDP.

A true federalist, Dickson he has spent many years building networks that criss-cross Nigeria not deterred by ethnic, regional, religious, and political borders.

This network is part of NDC which is also investing in leadership structures ringed by integrity, and greater interests in the welfare of the majority of Nigerians, than the self.

NDC is about governance that puts the people first in line with the demand of the 1999 Constitution that, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

Dickson and his colleagues are working on restoring hope and confidence of the people who are sorely certain of the possibilities of their hope of the Nigeria of their dreams being realised in their lifetime.

“Many have given up hope of their votes making a difference,” Senator Dickson says. “So, one of the major things we are dealing with is the indifference of voters. We are telling them that NDC is the difference Nigerians have been waiting for over the years.”

The certificate for Dickson’s 2022 national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, which President Muhammadu Buhari bestowed on him, read “in recognition of your outstanding virtues and in appreciation of your services to our country, Nigeria,” and the citation stated, “in recognition of his immense contributions to good governance and legislative duties”.

Apt citations that capture the essence of his politics as shown over the years of service as Governor of Bayelsa State for eight years, Member, House of Representatives, and Senator.

NDC is another opportunity for Nigerians to free themselves from the shackles of poor politics, shallow governance and pursue their constitutional rights to their security and welfare, as not just the purpose of government, but its primary purpose.

Finally…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has embraced insecurity and normalised it. These days his war commanders are killed, not a word from the Commander-in-Chief. Killings in our communities by bandits and terrorists are no longer mourned. Tinubu needs to win the 2027 election. He can’t afford to annoy bandits and terrorists. Nothing is more important than his version of democracy which can be summarised as another four years for Tinubu.

ZAMFARA State Governor Dauda Lawal has become the 31st APC Governor after dumping PDP. Let’s see if his decision will end insecurity in Zamfara, stop its illegal gold mining which Tinubu’s government does not discuss.

DANIEL Bwala is a perfect image of the Tinubu administration. After his disastrous outing on Al Jazeera, he has refused to accept responsibility for his bumbling. Nigerian journalists are grossly blamed for asking “soft questions” that produce the Bwala species, a kind that denies its own statements that are on record. The message, rather, is that Tinubu’s best keep smearing Nigerians with unbecoming shamelessness” which is the real meaning of “renewed hope”.

PRICE increases in fuel, food, and other goods and services are being blamed on the war in Iran. Why does shipping challenge increase the price of fuel in Nigeria? We import fuel refined from crude we produce in abundance. Our challenge, in this instance, is Tinubu’s poor leadership. When Tinubu in 2024 applauded the “rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries”, did he not know that they would work for a couple of days after consuming over $3 billion in repairs?

“The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians. This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future that we promised. This development is a remarkable way to end the year following the feat recorded earlier with the old Port Harcourt Refinery. I am equally happy that NNPC Limited is implementing my directive to restore all four refineries to good working condition,” Tinubu’s statement on 30 December 2024 read.

Tinubu, not the war in Iran, is responsible for where we are.

•ISIGUZ0 is a major commentator on minor issues.

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