Senator Seriake Dickson has launched a scathing critique of both President Bola Tinubu and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, accusing them of undermining democracy even as Nigeria marked the 2025 Democracy Day.
The lawmaker stormed out of the Joint National Assembly session after Akpabio refused to acknowledge his attempt to speak on what he described as “undemocratic communications” from the Presidency regarding Rivers State.
Before President Tinubu’s address at the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Senate had held a brief plenary where 3 letters from the President were read.
These included requests for the confirmation of the Chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Members of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board, and Members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission.
Senator Dickson raised a point of order to speak on the communications but was ignored by the Senate President.
visibly upset after leaving the session and addressing Journalists, the federal lawmaker from Bayelsa State in South South region of the country said every Senator, regardless of party or position has the constitutional right to raise issues.
He added that the Senate President is duty-bound by the rules to acknowledge them.
He insisted that these appointments, which he described as attempts to deepen the unconstitutional situation in Rivers State, are being carried out under the cover of democracy, stressing that the situation in Rivers State is a military administration in the midst of democracy, while the country glamorous to be celebrating Democracy Day.
Dickson declared that it is troubling that on Democracy Day, a day meant to symbolize freedom, civil rule, and justice such communications were read unchallenged in the chambers of the Nigeria’s highest law making body.
According to Sen. Dickson, the silence on the Rivers State crisis in the President’s Democracy Day address was deafening.
He questioned why President Tinubu choose the Democracy Day to legitimize what he referred to as those unconstitutional acts.
He acknowledged that the President’s speech was impressive and flowery in parts, and praised him for honoring democracy heroes, but emphasized that democracy is not built by words, rather sustained by actions.
He emphasized that President Tinubu missed a golden opportunity to show leadership and strengthen democracy by restoring constitutional rule in Rivers State.
Dickson emphasized that the crisis is not about Governor Sim Fubara’s origin or political affiliation, but about defending the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State and upholding the Constitution.
He warned that by prioritizing political interests, the President is putting Nigeria’s broader democracy at risk.
Editor: Ken Eseni
