2nd January, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
In three church services in two days, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson preached the same message – the importance of peace and an attitude of gratitude.
He said Nigerians needed them to achieve their plans in 2024.
At the New Year’s Eve service that ushered in 2024, at the Kpadia Royal Square in Toru-Orua, his home town, the former Governor of Bayelsa State led his constituents in singing praises to the Almighty for his mercies in the past year.
“We would have achieved nothing. We would not have become anything if the Almighty did not make it possible for us,” as the people resounded their “Amens”. The atmosphere was carnival as the people celebrated with prayers for better fortunes in 2024.
“The economic situations are challenging,” Senator Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District, said. “We need peace and harmony, and the Nigerian spirit of resilience to overcome these situations.”
Hours later, the celebrations and thanksgiving continued at The Palace of Melchizedek, Senator Dickson’s chapel in his residence. A choral contest lifted the thanksgiving. Senator Dickson called up people among the congregants to lead songs of their choices.
“I have always been convinced that we do not serve the Almighty God if we do not care about our fellow human beings,” said Senator Dickson, who earlier had engagements where he gave food items and cash to his constituents.
Later on Monday night, another service was held at the Toru-Orua Christian Centre Ark of Refuge and Mercy. The message was the same: the people and their Senator all took their praises to new heights as they acknowledged things the Almighty had done for them while they asked for new mercies in 2024.
“On behalf of my family, I wish everyone a peaceful, prosperous, successful, and healthy 2024. It is our prayer that this new year will usher in greater peace, stability and understanding among ourselves and families, communities, our state, throughout the country and all around the world as we strive to be our best in all that we do, think or say in this new year, and that whatsoever we say think or do should be to the benefit of all humanity.
“I thank all friends and well-wishers, women and youth groups, the choir, clergymen from far and near who came to be part of these various services that just ended tonight, and I wish them journey mercies and God’s blessings. I hope to fellowship with them again and again,” he said.
Senator Dickson is not new to thanksgiving. As Governor of Bayelsa State, one of the first laws he signed was the Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Day Law, 2012, which set 2 November as a public holiday with official services in the State.
He later built the Ecumenical Centre in Yenagoa, a place of worship to the Almighty, where he allocated offices to various denominations.