Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a grave setback for democracy.
Reacting to the announcement on Tuesday evening, Dickson expressed shock and disapproval, stating that while Rivers has experienced prolonged political disputes, the decision to remove an elected governor and his deputy for six months is unconstitutional.
“I do not support the declaration of a state of emergency, especially when that is taken to mean that the Governor and his Deputy will vacate their seats. I don’t believe that is the intendment of the constitution,” Dickson said.
He reiterated his long-held stance against emergency declarations that remove elected officials, emphasizing that even in times of crisis, the mandate of the people must be respected.
Dickson, a key political figure in the Niger Delta, lamented what he called an attack on the Ijaw nation and the democratic structure he fought to protect. He recalled his tenure as Bayelsa governor, where he resisted federal interference, managed a recession, and ensured political stability despite challenges.
“I brought in a successor to lead and protect our people because he was part of the Ijaw movement. Is this what has become of the Ijaw nation that we all staked everything to build?” he asked.
The former governor urged the people of Rivers and the Niger Delta to remain resilient and thoughtful in the face of the political crisis, assuring them that they would overcome the situation together.
Dickson’s statement adds to the growing backlash against Tinubu’s decision, which has already sparked debates on its legality and political implications for Rivers State and beyond.
Read Senator Dickson’s statement in full:
This evening, like all Nigerians, I was jolted by the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
While we are all aware of the prolonged political disputes in the state, I do not support the declaration of a state of emergency, especially when that is taken to mean that the Governor and his Deputy will vacate their seats for six months. I don’t believe that is the intendment of the constitution, and that has been my position on matters like this even when we had a PDP President. I have always opposed declarations of emergency in states that meant that their governors would vacate their offices, and this is no exception. I have always had the view that even with the declaration of a state of emergency in a state, the elected government must be protected and need not be removed.
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I have spent all my adult life fighting and defending our people, even when leaders, out of envy and wickedness, sponsor propaganda and misinformation. When I was leaving as governor, and because I knew the anti-democratic and anti-Ijaw forces in our region and in the country, having fought and defeated them, knowing their strengths, strategies and their determination, I brought in a successor. He did not tell me he wanted to be a governor.
I brought him in to lead and protect our people with our support, because he was part of the Ijaw movement.
While managing a recession for six years during my 8-year tenure, I worked and made a mark in all sectors of our State. We raised and maintained countless number of people — men, women and youths, with less than N500 million monthly after paying half salaries in a recession. We still stopped the brutal federal forces from taking over the state in 2015, 2019 general elections, and 2020 governorship election where I sponsored all candidates with the support of our friends and allies.
Is this what has become of the Ijaw nation that we all staked everything to build?
It is a sad day for all democrats. It’s a sad day for Rivers State, and a sad day for our people. I urge everyone to put on their thinking caps. I urge our people to lift up their spirits as we will get over this together.
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson
Senator Representing Bayelsa West and Immediate Past Governor of Bayelsa State.