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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senator Seriake Dickson has opened up on holding public office in Nigeria, declaring that honesty comes at a high personal and political cost.
Dickson, who has spent nearly two decades in public service as a commissioner, two-time governor, House of Representatives member and serving senator, said this in Abuja on Monday after receiving the Transparency in Leadership Award from the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness at the National Assembly.
Reflecting on what he described as an “unfavourable climate” for ethical leadership in the country, he revealed that its public space often rejects integrity and attracts stiff resistance, saying, “It is not easy in this country to serve with honesty within the public realm. In a society where everyone is often painted with the same brush, it is a tough environment to serve — a society filled with propaganda, blackmail, and misrepresentation.”
Recalling his journey in governance, Dickson said his experience spans his service as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Bayelsa State under former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2006 and 2007, his election into the House of Representatives in 2007, his eight-year tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2020, and his current role in the Senate, which he assumed in 2020, he disclosed that navigating Nigeria’s difficult public service terrain required a deep personal commitment to service, anchored on accountability to both man and God.
“Despite the polluted public space in Nigeria, I have held my head and shoulders high by standing with the masses at all times. That is how I have tried to serve man and serve God with honesty, transparency, and integrity,” he said.
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While lamenting widespread public distrust in governance, the senator insisted that upright and patriotic Nigerians still exist within public institutions.
“From my own experience, I can say there are honest Nigerian public officers. There are hardworking and patriotic Nigerians. They may be few, but they exist,” he stressed.
Dickson therefore urged civil society organisations to deliberately search for, identify, and celebrate such individuals across all sectors of society.
“I urge you to look closely and recognise deserving Nigerians. They are present in all walks of life. Even in institutions that are often criticised, including the judiciary, you will find honest, hardworking judges, magistrates, and justices,” he said.
He also defended the Nigeria Police Force, describing it as another institution often unfairly judged despite the presence of dedicated personnel.
“The same applies to the police, which is heavily criticised. By the way, I was once a policeman myself. That is why I was firm on law and order as a governor. I worked to restore sanity in my state, flushed out criminals, and addressed not only crime itself but also the root causes of crime and criminality,” he added.
