'My Relationship With President Jonathan' - Gov. Dickson Opens Up

Henry Seriake Dickson, the governor of Bayelsa state said there is a wonderful synergy, chemistry and understanding between him and President Jonathan.

Speaking with journalist on his relationship with the President, Gov. Dickson revealed that he and Jonathan who is not just an elder brother but a political leader have had years of political interaction.

"I have a very cordial relationship with the President, which has come a long way and far longer than a number of people do have," he said.

Gov. Dickson described the president as a gentleman who believes in due process and does not interfere with the running of things in Bayelsa state.

According to Dickson, the president cares passionately for the state and region just as he cares for Nigeria as a whole.

He said, "Having a president coming from your state to me is like having an umbrella; it is like having someone you can run to for advice, and whom you can ask for support.

"I enjoy having a president from my state and I wish to have more presidents from Bayelsa because it makes the burden of leadership easier and lighter and that gives me an additional responsibility and I think we are coping well and I am a very secure person; secured and confident."

Speaking about the opposition, Dickson said they are not his enemies but his friends as there has to be opposition in a democratic government.

"There has to be opposition; this is a democratic government and I am a democrat. I spent over six and half years in opposition. I was a leader of the opposition in Bayelsa. I respect opposition and I expect a vibrant, formidable and focused opposition and also a constructive opposition. Opposition politicians are not my enemies. I take them as friends; it is their responsibility to ensure that they play by the rules and it is my own responsibility to ensure that the laws are respected and obeyed and particularly in this environment. Once there is no criminality, we are all fine," he said.
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