No democracy in Nigeria as long as Rivers is under emergency rule — Dickson
Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), yesterday criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to use the occasion of Democracy Day to restore democratic order in Rivers State. Dickson said the president ought to have used the occasion to call off the ongoing emergency rule in Rivers which he described as a “military-style suppression of […]
Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), yesterday criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to use the occasion of Democracy Day to restore democratic order in Rivers State.
Dickson said the president ought to have used the occasion to call off the ongoing emergency rule in Rivers which he described as a “military-style suppression of democracy.”
It could be recalled that President Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
The president made the declaration in a nationwide broadcast and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s sole administrator to oversee governance.
Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, Tinubu said the emergency measure was necessary to restore peace in the state, following the political crisis as a result of the feud between Fubara and a former governor of the state who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the control of politics and governance in Rivers.
The state of emergency was later approved by the National Assembly following President Tinubu’s request in a letter to the legislators.
Since March, 2025, Ibas has been running the state, while Fubara has been meeting with critical stakeholders as part of efforts to resolve the issues.
But Senator Dickson who opposed Tinubu’s decision right from the begining and even stormed out of plenary over the issue, said yesterday that “You cannot claim to be a democrat on paper and trample on democracy in practice. The President missed a golden opportunity today (yesterday) to restore constitutional order in Rivers.
“This is not about Governor Fubara or any party. 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.
“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 accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to legitimise “unconstitutional governance” in Rivers State through federal backing, warning that such actions were antithetical to 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. 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,” Senator Dickson said.
He also dismissed the claim that his criticism was politically motivated, stressing that his concerns transcended party lines and were rooted in constitutional fidelity.
Dickson called on all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliations to stand in defense of democratic principles and institutions.
“This is not just about one state or one governor. This is about our collective future. The struggle of June 12 wasn’t just about voting, it was about dignity, justice, and the voice of the people. We must not betray that legacy,” he said.