Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West in the Nigerian Senate, has shed more light on his recent confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The heated exchange, which occurred during Senate plenary on Thursday, was sparked by President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend democratically elected officials in Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly.
Dickson, who served as the Governor of Bayelsa State before becoming a senator, expressed his strong opposition to the president’s emergency declaration. He described the actions as unconstitutional and said that Akpabio’s attempt to silence him during the debate was unfair and an infringement on his right to freely express his views as a lawmaker.
Taking to his Facebook page later that evening, Senator Dickson provided further details about the events leading up to the Senate’s ratification of President Tinubu’s declaration. He revealed that he had raised concerns in a closed-door session, arguing that the state of emergency in Rivers State violated the Nigerian Constitution.
“I have stated repeatedly that I objected to the declaration of the state of emergency on constitutional grounds,” Dickson wrote. “As a Democrat, I am sworn to uphold the Nigerian constitution, and in my view, the declaration falls short of constitutional requirements.”
The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was prompted by an explosion on a pipeline in the region, which the federal government described as a major security threat. However, Dickson and other lawmakers, including Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, felt the move was excessive, especially considering similar incidents had occurred elsewhere in the country without resulting in emergency measures.
While the debate on the emergency rule was held in a closed session, it was not conducted in an open Senate plenary. Dickson noted that, although the discussion was “robust,” the opportunity for open public debate was denied. According to him, the decision to ratify the proclamation was taken by the majority of senators in a closed-door session, with no room for a public airing of opposing views.
Senator Dickson was particularly concerned about the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State as part of the emergency rule. He questioned the legality of suspending a democratically elected governor, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly, pointing out that such a drastic measure has serious implications for the state’s democratic processes.
“The suspension of the elected officials is unconstitutional,” Dickson highlighted in his statement. “No matter the justification for the emergency rule, this action undermines the democratic governance that we have fought for over the years.”
Dickson’s strong opposition to the emergency rule was echoed by other senators, including Tambuwal, who voiced concerns over the constitutionality of the decision. However, despite these objections, the majority of senators ultimately voted in support of the proclamation, prompting Dickson and a few others to leave the plenary before the Senate President could report the outcome.
“I left the plenary because I did not want to be present while the measure I opposed was being reported,” Dickson explained. “Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe, and others also left in protest.”
Beyond the issue of the emergency rule, Dickson also accused Senate President Akpabio of attempting to stifle his freedom of expression during the plenary. The senator revealed that Akpabio had tried to prevent him from speaking freely about his opposition to the state of emergency, both during the plenary and in public interviews.
“It was unfair for the Senate President to try and censor my freedom of expression,” Dickson remarked. “Everyone knows that I have long moved past such attempts at intimidation. The Senate is supposed to be a forum of equals, and every senator should be respected, including the Senate President.”
The Bayelsa West senator highlighted that no senator should need permission from the Senate President to express their views on a matter of national importance. He further clarified that his views on the emergency rule were consistent, whether expressed in the Senate or in public interviews.
“I will meet with the Senate President to formally express my displeasure about the incident, and I hope this will prevent such occurrences in the future,” Dickson added.
Following the clash, Senator Dickson received support from many of his constituents and Nigerians, who commended his composure and courage in standing up against what he termed an attempt to intimidate him. In his Facebook post, Dickson thanked those who reached out to express their solidarity.
“I am grateful for the encouragement and support from my constituents, fellow Nigerians, and all people of goodwill,” Dickson said. “This is not just a personal issue but a fight for the preservation of participatory democracy in Nigeria.”
He also expressed concern over the direction Nigeria’s democracy is taking, warning that the actions of the federal government could undermine the principles of democratic governance. Dickson called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to push for reforms that strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.
“For someone like me, who has spent many years fighting for the rights of the people, this challenge is a call to duty,” he added. “We must all come together and work towards ensuring that the voice of the people is not silenced.”
Despite the tension within the Senate, Dickson remained hopeful that the situation could be addressed through legal and constitutional means. He emphasized that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State should be challenged in the courts if necessary.
“The ball is now in the court of the other arms of government, especially the judiciary, in the event of any legal challenge,” he stated. “We must continue to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the constitution is respected.”
Dickson also expressed his sympathy for the people of Rivers State, who he said were the ultimate victims of the political crisis. His thoughts, he said, were with the people of Rivers as they face the uncertainties caused by the suspension of their elected officials and the imposition of emergency rule.
In closing, Dickson reiterated his belief that a more open and transparent debate was needed in the Senate, especially on matters that affect the entire nation. He called for greater accountability from the Senate leadership and stressed that democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas.
“The beauty of democracy is that the minority should have their say, while the majority has their way,” Dickson concluded. “It is essential that all views are given a fair hearing, and that every senator’s voice is respected in the decision-making process.”
