Onyeche Wofurum Igwe
Rivers State National Assembly caucus has warned Senator Seriake Dickson to stop interfering in the state’s affairs.
Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, had criticized President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address, specifically his silence on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, stating that democracy is supposed to inspire hope, but Tinubu’s actions were a direct assault on that hope, accusing the Tinubu administration of backing unconstitutional governance in Rivers, contradicting the spirit of June 12.
However, addressing journalists on Friday at the National Assembly, the Rivers State National Assembly caucus disagreed with Dickson’s assessment, describing his comments as inciting and unbecoming of a lawmaker.
The caucus cautioned Dickson to steer clear from further incitement and called on security agencies to place him under watch.
The leader of the Rivers’ caucus at the National Assembly, Kingsley Chinda, urged the Senate Committee on Ethics to investigate Dickson’s conduct, dismissing Dickson’s claim that Rivers was under military rule.
He explained that the current administrator is a civilian by law and that retired officers are civilians, making Dickson’s description misleading.
The caucus defended the emergency rule in Rivers, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling that there was no government in the state.
Chinda said Tinubu acted swiftly to prevent chaos and praised his intervention for preventing a total breakdown of governance.
He accused Dickson of promoting ethnic bias and misleading Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which allegedly led to Fubara’s suspension, questioning Dickson’s credibility in defending democracy, given his alleged utterances capable of causing unrest in Rivers.
He said: “The caucus cautions Senator Seriake Dickson to steer clear from further incitement of Rivers people. We call on security agencies to place him under watch and urge the Senate Committee on Ethics to investigate his unparliamentary conduct.”
“Senator Dickson, a retired police corporal himself, should understand that retired officers are civilians. To call the administration military rule is misleading and intellectually dishonest.”
“It is extremely unfortunate that a former governor and serving senator would make utterances capable of causing unrest in Rivers. Dickson is not fit to claim to defend democracy.”
The caucus’s statement was signed by several lawmakers, including Barry Mpigi, Allwell Onyesoh, Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, and others.
