Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) has accused President Bola Tinubu of turning a blind eye to what he describes as the “military-style suppression of democracy” in Rivers State, warning that the unfolding political crisis poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the President’s Democracy Day address to a joint session of the National Assembly, the former Bayelsa Governor condemned what he sees as a troubling contradiction between the President’s celebration of democracy and the situation playing out in Rivers.
“You cannot proclaim yourself a democrat on national TV and then watch democracy being trampled under your presidential foot in Rivers State,” Dickson said. “Rivers is under siege. This is nothing short of a constitutional crisis.”
The senator expressed outrage over what he termed the federal government’s tacit support for “an unconstitutional power structure” in the oil-rich state, describing it as a case of federal authority being used to override civil governance and undermine the rule of law.
“What we’re seeing in Rivers since March is practically a state of emergency—only without the official declaration,” he said.
Dickson’s remarks came after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from President Tinubu during a short Senate session.
The letter, which was delivered without a formal Order Paper, addressed key appointments to the Rivers State Electoral Commission, the Local Government Service Commission, and the Civil Service Commission.
The senator said his attempt to raise a constitutional point of order during the session was brushed aside.
“My right as a senator to raise an objection was denied,” Dickson revealed. “The session was rushed, my intervention was ignored — that’s not how democracy works. That’s how military governments run parliaments.”
He described the timing of the communication as deeply ironic.
“On Democracy Day, of all days, the Senate chose to rubber-stamp a process that undermines democratic principles. That’s not a coincidence; that’s a statement,” he said.
Although he acknowledged the beauty of the President’s Democracy Day speech, Dickson said it rang hollow against the backdrop of Rivers’ political unrest.
“You can’t preach democracy in the morning and turn a blind eye to its destruction in the afternoon. Words are not enough — actions matter,” he said.
READ ALSO: Rivers Emergency: Dickson Warns of Democratic Setback
Dickson clarified that his concerns were not driven by party loyalty or individual personalities.
“This is not about Fubara or Wike. It’s about the people of Rivers State and the broader future of our democracy. If this goes unchallenged today, it could happen in any state tomorrow,” he warned.
He also criticized the Senate for failing to engage in meaningful debate or scrutiny of the President’s communication.
“This isn’t about numbers. It’s about principle. Majorities don’t give anyone the license to trample on the Constitution. That’s not democracy — that’s tyranny in disguise.”
With a nod to his Ijebu heritage, Dickson issued a final warning about the dangers of unchecked power.
“No one has a monopoly on power. We must draw the line somewhere. What we do now will determine whether democracy survives in this country.”
He concluded with a rallying call for Nigerians to defend democratic values beyond partisan lines.
“June 12 was about more than elections — it was about the dignity of every Nigerian voice. We must not betray that legacy.”