Dickson Urges Former Governors to Support Their Successors from Afar

Senator Seriake Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, has recommended that fellow former governors who are having difficulties with their successors should focus on offering prayers for peace of mind instead of engaging directly in the political fray.

During an interview with reporters in Abuja, Dickson shared his insights on how ex-governors should interact with those currently in office.

He remarked, "My advice to my friends and brothers, former governors, colleagues, is don’t worry yourself much. God has used us to support them. Most of them, the ambition was not theirs. It was ours. They didn’t even say, ‘I want to be governor.’ Most of them, we brought them. We told them ‘come and be governor.’"

Dickson emphasized the importance of allowing current governors the space to perform their duties, stating, "Whenever I visit my state, I rarely stay in Yenagoa. I head straight to my village and maintain a low profile, giving the governor room to work. Even when they may show disrespect or engage in slander, we ought to pray for them to recognize that they too will someday be former governors, and time indeed passes swiftly. My counsel is to leave matters in God's hands and move forward."

On the topic of the Bayelsa deputy governorship position, he noted that it is ultimately up to Governor Duoye Diri to make such selections, declaring, "It is the duty, responsibility and prerogative of the governor to select his deputy."

Dickson expressed his commitment to supporting Diri while remaining clear of direct governance, attributing the resulting peace and stability to this approach.

He identified the crises afflicting the Peoples Democratic Party as stemming from leadership failure. According to him, decisions by governors and former National Working Committee members were often made without adequate consultation with key stakeholders.

He stated, "I continue to be a part of the PDP because of my loyalty to the platform that has served my people and me well. However, it is crucial to note that the PDP’s leaders have faced significant issues. Governors have squandered chances to find effective solutions that could preserve this historic party. It seems many believe it to be their private network, yet the PDP stands as a national legacy."

Dickson hinted that he might need to reconsider his role within the PDP if the ongoing strife fails to resolve.

"Captains do not abandon ship in times of crisis. A true leader remains until all options have been exhausted. Yet, I will arrive at a conclusion... At present, the prospects for the PDP appear grim, though we maintain hope that a positive shift can occur," he added.

Additionally, as a member of the Senate Committee on the Electoral Act, Dickson criticized the Senate’s amendments that eliminated consensus and indirect primaries as methods for electing candidates, emphasizing the House’s endorsement of direct, indirect, and consensus approaches.