Members of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly rose from an emergency meeting on Friday faulting Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) over his call for the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The lawmakers described Dickson’s comments as misleading, inflammatory, and potentially destabilising, warning that such rhetoric could jeopardise the fragile peace efforts currently underway.
Chairman of the Caucus and House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who briefed reporters, expressed deep concern over Dickson’s condemnation of the state of emergency declared in Rivers and his call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reinstate suspended Fubara.
The caucus accused Dickson of attempting to incite unrest, warning that his persistent interference risks derailing ongoing peacebuilding efforts in the oil rich state.
Chinda argued that the call was needless since the emergency declaration was a lawful, constitutional response to escalating political instability and a deteriorating security climate in the state.
The caucus emphasised that the emergency rule followed due constitutional process, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in situations that threaten national security and public order.
“Senator Dickson’s attempt to portray the emergency rule as military governance is not only false but intellectually dishonest,” Chinda stated.
“The current Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired officer now functioning under civilian authority,” he said.
“Just as Senator Dickson, a retired police corporal, is no longer an active service member, Ibas too is a civilian. It is grossly inaccurate to insinuate that Rivers is under military rule.”
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Chinda contended that the Supreme Court’s judgment of February 28, 2025, affirming the absence of a functional government in Rivers State, validated the federal government’s decision.
He added even if Fubara himself publicly thanked President Tinubu for stepping in to avert total anarchy, it is therefore curious that Dickson, an outsider to the state, has chosen to champion what he termed a false narrative and stir up tension in the state.
“It is unfortunate that a former governor and serving senator, who should understand the responsibilities that come with leadership, is engaging in divisive rhetoric capable of igniting violence,” Chinda noted.
“He is not from Rivers. If he wants to stir trouble, let him do so in Bayelsa. We will not allow external actors to destabilise our state,” Chinda declared.
The lawmakers also called on security agencies to monitor the senator’s activities and urged the Senate Committee on Ethics to investigate his conduct.
Chinda also recalled past controversies surrounding Dickson, particularly his alleged disruption of a Federal High Court sitting during his time as governor of Bayelsa State, noting that such actions disqualify him from lecturing others on democratic values.
“His track record speaks for itself. He lacks the moral standing to preach about democracy,” he said.
The caucus thereby urged Dickson to refrain from meddling in the affairs of Rivers State, stressing that his interventions are neither welcome nor helpful.
Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East) who spoke in the same vein described the remarks attributed to Dickson as highly inappropriate and unhelpful just as he urged restraint from all political actors to prioritize peace over political grandstanding.
“This is a time for calm reflection and responsible leadership,” Onyesoh said.
“Rivers people deserve stability and governance, not provocations from those who are not even directly affected by the crisis,” he stressed.
(GUARDIAN)
