Emergency rule: Rivers lawmakers warn ex-Bayelsa gov against interference

The Rivers State National Assembly caucus has warned the senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, to stop interfering in the state’s affairs following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address.

Dickson had on Thursday condemned Tinubu’s silence i n the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State during his address at a joint session of the National Assembly.

“Democracy is supposed to inspire hope, but what we saw today in the Senate was a direct assault on that hope,” the former Bayelsa governor said.

He further accused the Tinubu administration of backing unconstitutional governance in Rivers, saying it contradicted the spirit of June 12, which commemorates Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

But addressing journalists on Friday at the National Assembly, the leader of the Rivers’ caucus at the National Assembly, Kingsley Chinda, described Dickson’s comments as inciting and unbecoming of a lawmaker with a background in law enforcement.

The statement was co-signed by Senators Barry Mpigi (Rivers South-East) and Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East); and House of Representatives members Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, Cyril Hart, Blessing Amadi, and Victor Obuzor.

“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,” Chinda said.

He dismissed Dickson’s assertion that Rivers was under military rule, explaining that the current administrator, Vice Admiral (retd) Ibok-Ette Ibas, is a civilian by law.

“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,” he said.

The caucus insisted that the emergency rule in Rivers was a constitutional response to political instability, citing the Supreme Court’s February 28, 2025 ruling that there was no government in the state.

“President Tinubu acted swiftly to prevent chaos. His intervention prevented a total breakdown of governance,” Chinda said, adding that even suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara had publicly thanked the President for saving the state.

He accused Dickson of promoting ethnic bias and misleading Fubara during his visits, which allegedly led to the governor’s suspension.

“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,” he said.