Dickson knocks Tinubu, Akpabio, says handling of Rivers crisis undermines democracy 

Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West at the Senate, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State, accusing him of undermining democratic principles.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly shortly after the President’s national address, Dickson expressed dismay that on a day meant to celebrate democratic values, the President failed to address what he described as “a dangerous erosion of constitutional rule” in Rivers State.

According to the former Bayelsa State Governor, democracy is about hope, hope for a better tomorrow, but today, many Nigerians are not happy. And the events in the Senate chamber this morning only deepened that despair.

Dickson accused Tinubu of trampling democracy in Rivers State while celebrating democratic ideals.

He expressed disappointment that the President remained silent on the undemocratic developments in Rivers State during his address to the National Assembly.

His words: ”You cannot be celebrating democracy, you cannot be flouting yourself as a democrat on one hand and on the other hand you will be trampling democracy under your big presidential foot in Rivers State”.

”Of all the things the President said, the president was silent about River State. ‘And today is about democracy, today is not about regretion , today is not about suppression of views of the people of Rivers state.

”Today is about respecting and upholding the democratic right under the constitution and laws, “” he said.

 The senator expressed disappointment that the president failed to address the erosion of constitutional rule in Rivers State, saying, ”The President missed a golden opportunity to raise and deepen democracy in Nigeria by restoring on today’s democracy day democratic and normal civil constitutional right in River State.

”So I’m disappointed firstly that the president never said anything about the undemocratic development In Rivers State which he has enabled, which he has brought about, which he has sanctioned and which he has continued to sustain and creating an impression that all is well. No.”

Dickson emphasised that his concern was not about political affiliation or regional sentiment, but about defending the constitutional rights of the people of Rivers State.

”This issues that some of us are passionate about is not because of Fubara’s nationality, it is not about Fubara’s party, but these are issues of respecting the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State under the constitution.

”As long a any part of Nigeria is under military rule, democracy is in danger in Nigeria as a whole.

 ”Today I am so saddened that inspite of the beautiful retric that the president came to the national assembly to deliver, the president was silent about restoration of democratic rule and normalisation of civil rules in Rivers State, ” he added.

He warned that allowing such actions to go unchallenged could set a precedent that threatens democracy across the country.

“Why choose Democracy Day, of all days, to affirm actions that are clearly undemocratic and illegal?” he asked, adding,  “What is happening in Rivers State today could happen in Lagos or Kano tomorrow”.

While acknowledging some commendable rhetoric in Tinubu’s national broadcast, Dickson said the speech fell short of addressing urgent threats to democratic governance.

He said, “Yes, the President made fine declarations about democratic ideals, and rightly honoured those who fought for civil rule. But democracy is not built on fine words alone; it is sustained by concrete actions.”

He also said that Senate President Godswill Akpabio suppressed him when he tried to raise a constitutional point of order regarding the President’s letter on appointments in Rivers State.

The former Bayelsa governor urged Nigerians to be more committed to democracy and not lose faith in the system.

He called on Tinubu to take concrete actions to defend democratic governance, rather than just making fine declarations.

Dickson further warned that silence on Rivers State could embolden anti-democratic tendencies across the country, endangering the future of democracy for all Nigerians.