Gov Dickson Tasks Fathers on Core Family Values

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has admonished fathers to work hard to build stable homes, stressing that no nation can be stable and prosperous, without a stable family.

Governor Dickson, who stated this in a special message to mark this year’s Fathers’ Day Celebrations at the King of Glory Chapel in Government House, Yenagoa, emphasised the need for fathers to impart the core values of humility, hard work and service to their children and wards.

He also urged them, especially the political class and career civil servants, to create chance, out of their crowded engagements, to spend quality time with their families, noting that providing the financial needs alone would not meet the requirements of building a successful home.

To this end, he directed the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dame Didi Walson-Jack to prepare a roster for annual vacation for all members of the state executive council and other key state government functionaries.

Hon. Dickson, who decried the complete abdication of the responsibility of inculcating moral and cultural values to mothers, house helps and other stakeholders, however congratulated fathers for their contributions towards ensuring peaceful coexistence and nation-building.

According to him, ” When a father or mother speaks from the abundance of his or her heart, the words do not go in vain. Today, therefore, presents another good opportunity for us, fathers to remind ourselves of the sacred duties bestowed on us by God. Some of us parents delegate our duties of bringing up our children to house helps, teachers and other people, whose backgrounds we do not really know.

Continuing, the governor noted that, children of some successful fathers could not step into the shoes of their fathers, because their parents fail to impart the essential values that make them successful, adding that ” without a successful family, there cannot be a successful community, state and nation.”

In his sermon, the Chaplain, King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Reverend Dotimi Egbegi, enjoined fathers to emulate the lifestyle of the biblical Abraham and Joseph by investing for their future and children.

Rev. Egbegi, who quoted copiously from the book of Genesis, said God created life in seasons and underscored the need for Bayelsans to imbibe the habit of saving for the rainy day.

Speaking on the significance of Fathers’ Day, the Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank, Yenagoa, Mr Akeem Adebanjo, described fatherhood as an embodiment of sacrifice, noting that, fathers spend much of their productive years to work for the well-being of the family.

The service, which featured thanksgiving and special prayers for the governor, Bayelsa State and the Nation, had in attendance, the wife of the governor, Dr Rachel Dickson, former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and a number of government functionaries.