Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has thrown his weight behind the newly elected leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), urging all Ijaw leaders and stakeholders to embrace reconciliation and work together for the unity and progress of the Ijaw Nation. Dickson made the call on Monday, 13 July 2026, after receiving the newly elected President of the INC, High Chief McDonald Ebi Igbadiwe, who paid him a courtesy visit alongside members of his executive.
Congratulating Igbadiwe and his team on their emergence, Dickson expressed confidence in their ability to provide purposeful leadership for the Ijaw people and wished them a successful tenure. He acknowledged the controversies that preceded the INC election but commended the Bayelsa State Government, Governor Douye Diri, Ijaw elders, and other stakeholders for establishing a high-powered reconciliation committee to address the crisis. He expressed hope that the committee's recommendations would be implemented without delay to restore harmony, unity, and stability within the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation.
Drawing from his experience in managing Ijaw leadership affairs during his tenure as governor, Dickson emphasised that dialogue, sacrifice, harmonisation, and unity remain the only sustainable path to resolving internal disputes. He cautioned against actions capable of creating division within the Ijaw Nation, stressing that he would not support any individual or group seeking to undermine the unity of the Ijaw people or weaken the leadership role of the Bayelsa State Government in matters affecting the Ijaw Nation. According to him, leaders should offer constructive advice to the governor in good faith rather than undermine the state's leadership on issues concerning the collective interests of the Ijaw people.
Dickson maintained that the affairs of the Ijaw Nation transcend political affiliations, describing them as matters of collective survival, identity, and the rightful place of the Ijaw people within Nigeria. He urged politicians and Ijaw leaders across party lines to speak with one voice whenever the interests of the Ijaw Nation are at stake. Reflecting on his eight-year administration in Bayelsa State, he highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening Ijaw identity and promoting unity, including the creation of the Ministry of Ijaw National Affairs, the Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park, the Ijaw National Academy, the Ijaw Language Project, the Ijaw History Project, the Izon-Ibe Microfinance Bank, and the institutionalisation of Friday Cultural Day in the state's public service.
Dickson expressed concern over recurring disagreements within the Ijaw leadership, warning that such conflicts weaken the Niger Delta struggle and the long-standing quest for justice, equity, and fairness in Nigeria. He appealed to all aggrieved parties to put the contest behind them and unite behind the new INC leadership, noting that every aspirant who contested the election was qualified to lead the organisation. He reaffirmed his confidence in the new INC President, describing him as capable of advancing the Ijaw cause and urging all stakeholders to focus on addressing the broader challenges confronting the Ijaw Nation.
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