Friday, June 13, 2025 - The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday, condemned what he described as a “military-style suppression of democracy” in Rivers State and criticised President Bola Tinubu’s silence on the crisis during his 2025 Democracy Day address.
Speaking to journalists after the joint session of the
National Assembly where President Tinubu delivered his address to mark
Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary, Dickson expressed deep disappointment
over the President’s failure to address what he called the “unconstitutional
governance” currently playing out in Rivers State, which is under emergency
rule.
“Let me
begin by wishing Nigerians a Happy Democracy Day, even though one could ask—are
Nigerians truly happy today?” he said. “Still, democracy is about hope—hope for
a better tomorrow. But what we witnessed today in the Senate chamber was a
mockery of that hope.”
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, recalled how
President Tinubu’s communication on political appointments made by the Sole
Administrator of Rivers State, was read during Thursday’s plenary by Senate
President Godswill Akpabio, after which he attempted to raise a constitutional
point of order.
“My right as
a Senator to raise a constitutional matter was completely ignored. The Senate
President rushed through the President’s communication and brushed aside my
intervention, That is a blatant suppression and disrespect for parliamentary
privilege. The majority may have their way, but the minority must have its
say.”he said
The former Bayelsa State governor described the
communication from the President as an attempt to entrench “unconstitutional
military rule” in Rivers State, warning that such actions were incompatible
with the values of Democracy Day.
“It is
troubling that, on a day meant to celebrate civil rule and justice, the Senate
chose to read an undemocratic communication without challenge. Why choose today
of all days to endorse actions that clearly violate the Constitution?”
While acknowledging the President’s Democracy Day speech as
“flowery and impressive in tone,” Dickson said there was a glaring disconnect
between Tinubu’s words and the current political realities in states like
Rivers.
“You cannot
claim to be a democrat on paper and trample on democracy in practice. The
President missed a golden opportunity today to restore constitutional order in
Rivers.”he said
Dickson rejected claims that his stance was based on
political affiliations, noting that his position was rooted in the defense of
the Nigerian Constitution.
“This is not
about Governor Fubara or any party,” he said. “It is about the people of Rivers
State and the sanctity of our democratic institutions. Today, it is Rivers.
Tomorrow, it could be Lagos or Kano.”
He warned that setting a precedent where elected state
officials can be undermined from the federal level would endanger Nigeria’s
democracy across all regions.
“What
happened in Lagos during the elections was a power grab. What is happening in
Rivers is a continuation of that trend. We cannot build democracy on a
foundation of repression and silence.” he said
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