By Charles Igbo
About nine years after he exited the National Assembly with his head held high, the immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, returned to familiar grounds Tuesday, December 15, 2020, with swagger, walking taller than ever.
Dickson was a member of the House of Representatives before he contested for the office of the Bayelsa Governor, thus, reducing current Minister of State, Petroleum, to a one-term Governor.
On Tuesday, Dickson, along with three others, Adetokunbo Abiru, (Lagos East), Senator Cleopas Moses, (Bayelsa Central), and Senator Nora Ladi Dadu’ut (Plateau South), was sworn-in as the Senator to represent Bayelsa West.
The four of them were winners at the December 5, Bye-election conducted by INEC. Dickson replaces the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, while Moses replaces Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri.
Not sworn-in are the Senators from Imo and Cross River State.
In the case of Imo North, INEC declared the APC winner without a candidate.
A suit to decide on who the actual candidate is, between Senator Ararume and Chief Ibezim is going on. But the PDP is asking INEC to declare its candidate, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu, winner, insisting that APC had no candidate.
In the case of Cross River State, it is not known yet why Odey was not sworn-in.
A former Legislative aide to Governor Ayinde, he had arrived the Senate Chambers with family and friends early, but was not called-up to take the oath.
Dickson, a former Police Officer, is a lawyer and an activist. He was also a former Bayelsa Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
The new Senators were sworn-in by the Clerk to the Senate, Ibrahim El-Ladan.
