As Dickson ignites Christmas fire in Bayelsa

Christmas is already in the air in Bayelsa State, thanks to the vision of the state government to tap into all potential, especially latent ones, to reposition the oil-bearing state, writes AUSTIN EBIPADE in Yenagoa.

BAYELSA is a unique state, and the administration of governor Serieka Dickson is using every opportunity to showcase its uniqueness to the entire world. With the ambience of friendly climate all the year round, hospitable topography and amiable microcosm of the Nigerian state, the state symbolises a new Nigeria.

At a season like this, it is more than a home to all; it has been turned into the new destination for tourists from within and outside the country. Even weeks before the festivities of Christmas and New Year, the state capital is already bubbling, a beehive of pulsating activities; sight to behold with beautiful locations, colourful decorations and pieces of marvellous architectures. The magnificent 10,000-seater Ecumenical Worship Centre, at Igbogene in Yenagoa Local Government area of the state, however, stands out. The beauty and the spirituality around the centre, first of its kind in the country and the Niger Delta region, accounted for notable Nigerians in politics, business, religious circle from all walks of life that were in attendance for the dedication.

With the frenzy in the air, the edifice could not have come at a better time than now. The governor underscores this fact, as he sees it as one of the legacy projects of his administration, and indeed, his fulfillment of his vow to build a befitting place of worship where the people of the state would gather for the Bayelsa annual thanksgiving service and other religious activities.

“No one should take glory and credit for building a place of worship. We are only mortals and instruments effecting His will on earth. Thank God we are the instruments God used in making the centre a reality, but we cannot take the glory, for all glory belong to God. It is not everybody who want to build a house for God is privileged to do so. I consider myself privileged and honoured to have conceived and built the Ecumenical Centre and seen it to fruition,” he said.

Part of the projections is that beyond being a rendezvous for more than 90 per cent Christians that make the state population, the edifice would create further awareness on the huge potentials of the state; attract investors; add aesthetics to the environment and landscape of the state capital; generate revenue, act as rendezvous for conferees, among other stakeholders. The structure occupies 50 plots of land, with space for a 3-Star Hotel within the premises of the Ecumenical Worship Centre, conference centre, prayer halls and other facilities.

When Dickson became governor in February 2012, he had lamented that Bayelsa was lagging behind in area of development. The road to completion was not devoid of challenges, as the economic recession that took its toll on the state’s finances. He said “Our firm believe in God was instrumental to the success made in turning around the education sector, investments in school infrastructure and scholarship programmes, both within and outside the country.” The governor backed the structure with an enabling law, through the Ecumenical Management Bill 2017, to ensure the facility is maintained and preserved for generation unborn. Dickson, underscored the significant of the centre: “We feel we should acknowledge the supremacy of God not just in our individual lives, but in our government and most importantly in the lives of our people and state. With this building, you have a symbol that will remind us always of God’s eternal goodness to our people. On the economic benefit, the governor believes that just as pilgrimage visit to Jerusalem account for nearly 50 per cent of the economy of Israel, the ecumenical centre, which is a non-denominational centre, will generate internal revenue to the state, as the magnificent edifice would be open for Christian seminars, end of year programme, as well as week-long activities, either by Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) or Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). However, he noted that apart from the massive main auditorium, spacious prayers rooms and offices are also available for use, while guests in their numbers would be accommodated in the proposed 3-star hotel that would be built in the premises, pointing that visitors would lodge, eat and recreate in the state and that would improve our IGR.

The centre currently wears a  new look with eye-pumping and scintillating decorations, as it is set to host, for the first time, the monthly praise night, as well as a special thanksgiving to cross into the New Year on December 31, 2017.  The essence of the event, it was learnt, was to create harmony and abhor feeling of division, particularly political differences which is underlines major crisis in a state.

Expected at the event is Dickson, who is leading members of the state Executive Council, other top government functionaries and senior citizens of the state in prayer, praise and worship to God for the progress, peace and economic growth that the state experienced in 2017 and for His guidance in the coming year. Dickson, who is endeared to the worship of God, has already provided a secretariat space at the centre for the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigeria Pray Group, led by a former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.

The gesture, it was learnt, was highly appreciated by Gowon, who described the governor as a man, who has been able to rise above party politics to rally all citizens of the state for peace and unity. And, according to the State Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, peace, coupled with stability is the bedrock of good governance.  His words: ‘’Robust government policies and programmes of government would all failed if not inspired by God, here in Bayelsa God is the unseen pillar behind the Governor and the present administration, little wonder so much has been realized regardless of the recession experienced in the country.” To this end, he said the centre was beautified with Christmas  light, flowers and religious artefacts as the designated centre for a historic Chirstmas praise and worship by more than 1000 choristers, as well as  the crossover carol night/thanksgiving programme to usher in the New Year.