As Nigeria celebrated Democracy Day, Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, launched a scathing criticism against President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of a troubling silence on the escalating political crisis in Rivers State. Dickson specifically condemned what he described as the Federal Government’s apparent role in enabling a “military-style suppression of democracy” in the oil-rich state.
Speaking on a day meant to commemorate Nigeria’s democratic journey, Dickson expressed profound disappointment, questioning the true happiness of Nigerians on a day that should inspire hope. He directly linked Tinubu’s silence on Rivers to a broader disregard for the rule of law, asserting that a “beautifully written” Democracy Day speech by the President was betrayed by his administration’s actions in Rivers.
The Rivers State political crisis, characterized by a protracted power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike (now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory), has seen various contentious developments. These include defections of lawmakers, impeachment attempts, court rulings, and even a bombing of a section of the Rivers House of Assembly complex.
Dickson alleged that his attempt to raise a constitutional point of order in the Senate regarding the Rivers crisis was “deliberately shut down,” with the Senate President rushing through the President’s message and ignoring his intervention. This, he argued, was a direct assault on the principles of democracy and the rights of a Senator.
The former Bayelsa State Governor accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to legitimize “unconstitutional governance” in Rivers State through federal backing, warning that such actions are antithetical to the spirit of June 12. June 12, now Nigeria’s Democracy Day, symbolizes the struggle for democratic rule and the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history.
Dickson emphasized the irony of celebrating civil authority on a day when, he claimed, the Senate was endorsing actions that undermine the Constitution. He questioned the timing of a presidential communication read in the Senate on Democracy Day, suggesting it was intended to send a “chilling message about federal overreach.”
“You cannot preach democracy and practice autocracy,” Dickson declared, urging all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation, to rise in defense of democratic principles and institutions. He warned of a dangerous slide where federal might is used to subvert local democracy, stressing that the situation in Rivers State is not merely about one state or one governor, but about the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.
Senator Dickson had previously called for calm in Rivers State and urged President Tinubu to intervene directly in the crisis, appealing to key actors to find common ground. However, his latest remarks suggest a deepening concern over the Federal Government’s approach, perceiving it as an enabler rather than a resolver of the conflict.
June 12: Senator Dickson slams Tinubu for silence on Rivers political crisis
