The Rivers State National Assembly caucus has warned the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson, to stop mingling in the affairs of the state, following the senator’s condemnation of President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day outing at the parliament on Thursday.
The group also said the state is not under military rule.
Speaking to journalists shortly after a joint session of the National Assembly to commemorate the June 12 Democracy Day, the former Bayelsa State governor expressed dismay that the President, in his nationwide address, failed to acknowledge what he described as a “constitutional aberration” unfolding in Rivers.
“Let me start by saying Happy Democracy Day to all Nigerians — even though one might ask: are we truly happy?” Dickson said. “Democracy is supposed to inspire hope, but what we saw today in the Senate was a direct assault on that hope.”
Dickson’s anger stemmed from the correspondence from the President concerning political developments in Rivers State, read on the floor during the plenary session by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“My right as a Senator to raise a constitutional issue was completely disregarded. The Senate President rushed through the President’s message and ignored my intervention. That’s not how democracy works. That’s how military regimes operate,” Dickson said.
He accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to legitimise “unconstitutional governance” in Rivers State through federal backing, stressing that such actions breach the spirit of June 12, a day that symbolises Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
“It’s deeply ironic that on a day meant to celebrate the triumph of civil authority, the Senate is endorsing actions that undermine the Constitution. Why read this communication today, of all days, if not to send a chilling message about federal overreach?
“You cannot preach democracy and practice autocracy. President Tinubu’s speech was beautifully written, but his silence on Rivers betrays a troubling disregard for the rule of law,” Dickson stated.
Addressing a press conference at the National Assembly Complex on Friday, the leader of the Rivers State National Assembly caucus, Kingsley Chinda, noted that Dickson’s utterances were not only inciteful but unbecoming of a lawmaker who equally had a security background as a former policeman.
He said, “The caucus cautions Senator Seriake Dickson to steer clear from further incitement of Rivers People. We therefore call on security agencies to put a tab on him, as well as the Senate Committee on Ethics, to commence investigations into the unparliamentary actions of Senator Dickson in Rivers State.
“As members of the Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly, we watched with utter dismay, the vituperations of Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West Senatorial District in his press briefing, wherein he expressed his anger at the emergency rule in Rivers State and chided the President for not using his June 12 address before the National Assembly to restore suspended Governor Siminilayi Fubara to office.
“Let it be categorically stated that Rivers State is not under military rule. The current Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral (retd) Ibok-Ette Ibas, is a retired military officer, just as Senator Dickson is a retired police corporal. Neither can be said to be serving personnel of the armed forces. The implication of retirement is clear: once an officer retires, he becomes a civilian, and any leadership role he occupies is subject to civilian laws, norms, and democratic oversight. To label the current administration as “military rule” is, therefore, misleading and intellectually disingenuous.”
The caucus noted that “The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was a necessary constitutional intervention aimed at preserving peace, protecting lives, and restoring institutional order. This decision (emergency rule) was not taken lightly; it was prompted by the rising tide of political instability, executive rascality, and disregard for democratic institutions, which position was affirmed by the Supreme Court’s judgement of February 28th 2025, wherein the court said that there was no government in Rivers state.”
The caucus maintained that Tinubu acted swiftly and decisively to prevent the escalation of violence and systemic breakdown that loomed over our beloved state, stressing that “The bold step averted a full-blown crisis. Without that timely intervention, orchestrated chaos would have overwhelmed the mechanisms of governance and civil society.”
It further insisted that “The state of emergency declared in Rivers State is not a breach of the Constitution. Rather, it is a legitimate tool provided in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to restore sanity when democratic structures are under serious threat.”
According to Chinda, “Suspended Giv Fubara recently and publicly thanked Mr President for saving the day when he declared the state of Emergency in Rivers state. Therefore, Senator Dickson cannot be crying more than the bereaved.”
He continued, “It is extremely unfortunate that a former governor, a serving Senator and a retired Police Corporal who by his police training is expected to maintain law and order, decided to make undemocratic utterances capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Rivers state, especially when its citizens are on a peace path.
“It is on record that Senator Dickson, on one of his numerous visits to the suspended governor, promoted ethnic bigotry and biases that misled the Governor, and ultimately led to his suspension.
“With the antecedents of Senator Dickson, he is not qualified, grossly incompetent, and unfit to claim to protect democracy.”
The text was signed by Chinda, Sen Barry Mpigi (Rivers South East), Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), and Hon Dumnamene Dekor.
Others are House of Representatives members- Solomon Bob, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, Cyril Hart, Blessing Amadi, and Victor Obuzor.
