Dickson tackles Tinubu, Akpabio, warns of military-style suppression of democracy

Senator Seriake Dickson, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, has taken aim at President Bola Tinubu over what he describes as a troubling silence on the escalating political tension in Rivers State.

The former Bayelsa State governor raised concerns about what he sees as federal complicity in a “military-style suppression of democracy.”

Speaking to journalists after the National Assembly’s joint session marking Democracy Day, Dickson voiced disappointment that the President’s nationwide address did not acknowledge what he termed a “constitutional aberration” in Rivers.

“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.”

The senator’s criticism stemmed from a presidential communication regarding political events in Rivers State, which was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary. According to Dickson, his attempt to raise a constitutional point of order immediately after the announcement was ignored.

“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.”

Dickson accused the Tinubu-led government of supporting what he called “unconstitutional governance” in Rivers through federal influence, warning that such actions undermine the spirit of June 12 — a symbolic date in Nigeria’s democratic history.

“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,” he noted. “Why read this communication today, of all days, if not to send a chilling message about federal overreach?”

While acknowledging the President’s Democracy Day speech as well-crafted, Dickson argued that it failed to reflect current political realities.

“You cannot preach democracy and practice autocracy,” he said. “President Tinubu’s speech was beautifully written, but his silence on Rivers betrays a troubling disregard for the rule of law.”

Addressing possible political interpretations of his remarks, Dickson stressed that his stance was non-partisan and rooted in constitutional values.

“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?”

He pointed to events during the last general elections, particularly in Lagos, as evidence of a broader trend in the use of federal power to undermine democratic processes.

“What we saw in Lagos during the elections was a blatant power grab. What’s happening in Rivers now is the continuation of that trend,” he warned. “We are sliding into a dangerous place where federal might is used to subvert local democracy.”

Dickson urged Nigerians across the political and ethnic spectrum to rise in defense of democratic norms and constitutional governance.

“This is not just about one state or one governor. This is about our collective future,” he declared. “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.