By Emem Idio

YENAGOA—THE dark- complexioned Bayelsa First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Rachael Dickson, is not just a beauty and an academician with a PhD for that matter from the prestigious University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, she is something every Christian woman wants to be, a helper to her husband, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson. But, what has come to defined Mrs. Dickson personae in the last few years as First Lady of the state is her battle for the recognition and empowerment of women in the state.

Gov. Dickson

Thus, for the womenfolk in Bayelsa, she is a binding asset as far as her husband; Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s administration is concerned. Pillar: Not the raucous type in spite of her sound educational background, she has continued to play a pivotal and stabilizing role in the present administration. Not many would know that it was Governor Dickson that saw her through her university education with the aura she packs.

Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (retd), who is in the position to tell the dynamics at play, once described her as “a solid pillar behind the success recorded by the present Seriake Dickson administration.” Eloquent and assertive, Mrs. Dickson, a woman with a large heart is known to command a lot of influence in the decision making circle.

She is reputed to have lobbied her husband to give women befitting roles in his government. Humility is written all over her even in her dress code and passion to bring joy to the underprivileged. Most women political appointees owe their positions to the support of the state first lady, who has become a rallying point for women politicians and other feminine interest groups in the state.

Voice of Bayelsa women

A women leader in the state and one-time lawmaker, Mrs. Ruby Benjamin, described the state First Lady as a kind hearted woman, a mother and the voice of women in the state. She said: ”Her Excellency is an amiable and compassionate woman; she is the pride of our state and the backbone of our Governor. Her love for the Ijaw women and girl child knows no bound. She is her husband confidant and she is doing all her best to give our women a pride of place.

She added, “Mrs. Dickson has never hidden her sentiments for the womenfolk. She has promoted the cause of women in the state with tenacity. She is galvanizing rural women to mobilize support for government policies and programme.”It was to her credit that the governor declared that the 35 per cent ‘affirmative action’ will be upheld in the next dispensation to allow more women participation in politics and governance.

This perhaps explained the unprecedented number of female politicians now struggling for elective positions in the state.

Ijaw girl child tutelage

In what that has now become paraphernalia of the First Lady’s Office in Nigeria, Mrs. Dickson in 2012 launched her pet project under the auspices of the Friday Konyefa Foundation, an organization dedicated to the Ijaw girl child. The foundation is named in honour of the First Lady’s father because of his passion for education. As an academician, her zeal for education is reflected in her pet project, which is tied to the educational rescue of the vulnerable and less privilege Ijaw girl child.

Girl childeducation

The First Lady said during the launch of her pet project: “Before I leave office, I should be remembered with the legacy of the Ijaw girl child education that will give them a voice, who will be able to compete favourably with their peers in the world.” In this regard, she has offered scholarships and supported educational programmes across the state.

Unlike Dickson

Her 40th birthday celebration was low keyed just as the governor does not want elaborate birthdays and even banned placement of advertorial of goodwill messages to celebrate his birthday. But July last year, during her 41st birthday, Mrs. Dickson sprung a surprise. She threw a lavish birthday party and government officials, including the deputy governor, commissioners, lawmakers and local government chairmen placed goodwill advertorial messages in electronic and print media to celebrate with the amazon, an indication of her influence in the state.

Penetrating disparity

However, the reckless show of power by one of her siblings is in sharp contrast to the first lady’s gentle disposition. The relative uses security personnel to intimidate and harass whoever crosses her part, including journalists. She uses her privileged connection to secure contracts for decorations of venues at government functions in the state and this has undoubtedly rubbed off undesirably on the first lady.