Former Bayelsa State Governor and senator, Seriake Dickson, has revealed how former President Goodluck Jonathan helped Didi Esther Walson-Jack overcome political pressure and career challenges on her path to becoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Dickson made the disclosure at the presentation of Walson-Jack’s books, I Planted and Beyond the Mandate, held to mark her retirement after 34 years in public service.
He said Walson-Jack’s professionalism and attention to detail earned her the trust of political leaders and helped her withstand difficult periods in the Bayelsa State Civil Service.
Dickson recalled meeting Walson-Jack when Jonathan was governor of Bayelsa State and had appointed him Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
According to him, Walson-Jack, who was then Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General in the Ministry of Justice, helped him understand the administrative responsibilities of running the ministry.
“It was D.D. Walson-Jack who had the duty of putting me through on how to give administrative leadership to the ministry as Attorney-General,” Dickson said.
He said they worked together on several reforms, including the recruitment of young lawyers into the state’s legal service.
Dickson also recalled an incident in which Walson-Jack’s official records helped him defend himself against allegations linked to a government-approved library project after he had left office.
He said her handover note provided important evidence that helped clarify the matter.
“So we requested for her handover note, and that was what saved me,” he said.
Dickson said he later approached Jonathan, who was then Vice President, when political tensions threatened Walson-Jack’s career in Bayelsa.
He said he asked Jonathan to approve her nomination to attend the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), describing the move as an attempt to remove her from what he called “political toxicity.”
According to Dickson, Jonathan approved the request after confirming that Walson-Jack was willing to attend.
He said he later approached Jonathan again when Walson-Jack faced another challenge in the state civil service and sought her transfer to the Federal Civil Service.
Dickson said Jonathan asked whether she wanted the transfer and subsequently directed that the necessary documents be submitted.
He said the intervention eventually paved the way for Walson-Jack’s move from the Bayelsa State Civil Service to the Federal Civil Service.
Dickson also recalled that after becoming governor of Bayelsa State, he again approached Jonathan to allow Walson-Jack to return to the state.
“I said, ‘Sir, return Didi to me.’ He said, ‘What do you want to use that for?’ I said, ‘Chief of Staff.’ He said, ‘Bring the letter.’ Approved,” Dickson recalled.
He described Walson-Jack as an outstanding public servant and praised her for maintaining professional standards throughout her career.
Dickson said her rise to the top of Nigeria’s civil service demonstrated the value of competence, resilience and commitment to duty.
He also attributed part of her character to the values instilled by her late father, whom he described as a traditional ruler, poet and literary figure.
Linking her career to the title of her book I Planted, Dickson said the values planted in Walson-Jack had produced results that were now being celebrated.
He urged younger Nigerians, especially young Bayelsans and women, to draw lessons from her career and embrace consistency, integrity and dedication to public service.
“You have done well. Congratulations,” Dickson told Walson-Jack.
The ceremony brought together President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Toochukwu Udeh, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Douye Diri, Dickson and other dignitaries to celebrate Walson-Jack’s 34 years of service.