By Kolawole Ojebisi
The lawmaker representing Bayelsa West, Senator Seriake Dickson, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for his silence over what he described as a “constitutional aberration” unfolding in Rivers State in his Democracy Day speech
Dickson accused the Tinubu administration of enabling a creeping “military-style suppression of democracy.” for failing to address the emergency rule foisted on the people of Rivers State in his beautifully written speech.
The legislator spoke to journalists shortly after a joint session of the National Assembly to commemorate Democracy Day
“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.”
At the heart of Dickson’s outrage was a communication from the President concerning political developments in Rivers State, read aloud during the plenary session by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Dickson alleged that his attempt to raise a constitutional point of order immediately after the announcement was “deliberately shut down.
“My right as a Senator to raise a constitutional issue was completely disregarded,” he said. “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.”
“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,” Dickson noted. “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,” he said.
Dickson added, “President Tinubu’s speech was beautifully written, but his silence on Rivers betrays a troubling disregard for the rule of law.
“This is not about Governor Fubara. It is not about political parties. It is about the people of Rivers State and the survival of democracy in Nigeria,” he asserted. “If Rivers can be treated this way today, what stops it from being Lagos or Kano tomorrow?”
