Former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for what he called an attack on democracy in Rivers State.
Speaking on June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Dickson said it was wrong for the federal government to talk about democracy while acting against it. He was reacting to the move by the National Assembly to consider a state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
“Of all days, why did the President and the Senate President choose today, being a democratic day in Nigeria, to read all those undemocratic, unconstitutional, and illegal communications to the National Assembly?” Dickson questioned.
He described the actions as a direct assault on democracy and accused the federal government of undermining the will of the people in Rivers State. He said using federal power to interfere in a state’s affairs goes against the principles Nigeria is meant to celebrate on Democracy Day.
The crisis in Rivers State has been ongoing for months, involving political disagreements between Governor Fubara and key figures within his party. Calls for federal intervention have grown louder, with some lawmakers asking the President to declare a state of emergency.
Dickson, a senator and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warned that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat if such actions continue. He urged President Tinubu to respect democratic values and allow peace to return to Rivers State through dialogue, not force.
