Senator Dickson Wins Democracy Award, Urges President Tinubu to Protect ECOWAS and Democratic Institutions
Oru Leonard
Former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other African leaders to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and ensure credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Senator Dickson made the appeal after receiving the Pillar of Nigeria Democracy Award at the 6th Anniversary Lecture, Dinner, and Awards organized by Diplomatic Digest Magazine in Abuja.
Speaking as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Dickson expressed concern over constitutional disruptions and the resurgence of military coups in West Africa.
He urged President Tinubu to sustain diplomatic engagement with the Alliance of Sahel States to help restore unity within the regional bloc.
”Democracy is not a sprint; it is a marathon, it is the democratic path to development, but there are no shortcuts on that path.
“Democracy can only thrive where there is respect for the Constitution, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, a free press, and an electoral management body that enjoys the confidence of the people,” Senator Dickson said.
Looking toward the 2027 general elections, the former governor called on all stakeholders to protect the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and security agencies to ensure electoral outcomes reflect the public will.
He dedicated his award to leaders and members of the NDC and millions of Nigerians defending constitutional governance since 1999.
The event, which brought together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, academics, and traditional rulers, also featured a lecture titled “Chinese Diplomatic Tools and the Redefinition of the Global Governance System.”
Delivering the lecture, Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Head of Contemporary China–Africa Research in Nigeria and Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), advocated for a strategic approach to Africa’s ties with Beijing.
Professor Ghali urged Nigeria to leverage diplomatic relations with China to accelerate industrialization, infrastructure, technology transfer, and human capital development through mutually beneficial partnerships rather than dependency.
Addressing attendees, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, highlighted the role of active diplomacy in attracting foreign direct investment, expanding trade, and advancing national security.
He called for closer cooperation among government bodies, the private sector, academia, and the media to support Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.
Earlier in his welcome address, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Diplomatic Digest, Kennedy Peretei, commended Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu for her leadership and thanked the diplomatic community for supporting the publication over its six-year history.
He further called on the Diplomatic Community, government at all levels and other stakeholders to always support, partner and collaborate with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, (DICAN) as a credible premium media association with international acceptance.
The Publisher however, commended ed the Chairman of DICAN Frederick Idehai for his visionary leadership, the Exco and members for transforming the landscape of developmental journalism through the association’s various international conferences to counter disinformation, misinformation, malinformation, fake news and deepfakes in order to make the world a better place.
