Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West in the Senate, has joined a growing national leaders urging President BolaTinubu to initiate a political process that could lead to the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The lawmaker, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, said such a move is essential for restoring peace in the South-East and strengthening national cohesion.
Speaking on the matter, Senator Dickson emphasised that the appeal transcended regional interests and reflects the aspirations of Nigerians who want a stable, united, and equitable country.
According to him, “Only a carefully negotiated settlement, anchored on the renunciation of violence and commitment to dialogue can address the underlying issues driving separatist sentiments.
The senator expressed deep concern over the violent incidents recorded in various parts of Nigeria, from separatist-linked attacks in the South-East to terrorist assaults in the North.
Drawing from his background as a former police officer and seasoned lawyer, he said the killing of security personnel pained him personally.
He stressed that all Nigerians must stand against violence in any form and show empathy to victims whose lives, families, and livelihoods have been affected by instability.
Senator Dickson argued that the state’s response, arrests, prosecutions, and detentions was consistent with global norms but historically insufficient for ending political agitations.
He cited international and national precedents, noting that the cases of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and Isaac Adaka Boro in Nigeria illustrate that legal punishment rarely extinguishes political grievances.
“Real progress usually begins when leaders rise above partisan or ethnic interests and pursue a political process capable of healing wounds and rebuilding national trust, ” he said.
The Senator referenced past peace efforts that delivered tangible results, particularly the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s initiative in the Niger Delta, which led to the Presidential Amnesty Programme and brought long-needed stability to the region.
He also recalled General Yakubu Gowon’s leadership during the civil war era, when the military head of state pardoned Isaac Boro and brought him and his comrades into the federal fold.
Boro later died defending Nigeria, a transformation Dickson described as a profound lesson in reconciliation and national healing.
The Senator noted that, as Governor, he had invited Gowon to Bayelsa to honour Boro and other regional heroes at the Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park, where his administration reinterred Boro’s remains decades after his death.
Senator Dickson urged President Tinubu to act not only as a political leader but as a statesman by opening a peace process aimed at resolving long-standing grievances in the South-East.
He said such an initiative should run parallel to ongoing court proceedings and address nationwide issues of marginalization and structural imbalance.
He reminded the President of his own long-standing advocacy for restructuring during his years in NADECO and the Alliance for Democracy, adding that Tinubu is uniquely positioned to actualize those reforms.
Senator Dickson pledged his full support if the President decided to lead that national transformation.
Amid heightened tensions, the Senator cautioned security agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of Nnamdi Kanu throughout the legal and political processes.
He warned that the overstretched security forces cannot manage additional crises at a time when terrorism and banditry still threaten large portions of the North.
He pledged support for government efforts to combat extremist and criminal groups bent on destabilizing the country.
Senator Dickson appealed to Igbo youths to remain calm and participate actively in political and constitutional engagements that could deliver a restructured Nigeria.
He assured them that leaders across regions are already coordinating to ensure the right steps are taken.
As Chairman of the South-South Senate Caucus, Senator Dickson affirmed that he has begun consultations with his colleagues in the South-East and across the federation.
He reiterated his readiness to support any process aimed at building a fair, balanced, and inclusive Nigeria.
Senator Dickson
