The Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly has warned Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West, to stop interfering in the state’s affairs.
This comes after Dickson criticized President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech and alleged federal overreach in Rivers.
Speaking to reporters after the joint National Assembly session on June 12, Dickson expressed disappointment that the President failed to address what he called a “constitutional aberration” in Rivers State.
“Democracy is meant to inspire hope, but what we witnessed in the Senate was the opposite,” Dickson said, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of rushing through a presidential communication regarding Rivers without allowing proper debate. “That’s not democracy — that’s how military regimes behave,” he added.
Dickson also criticized the Tinubu administration for allegedly backing unconstitutional governance in Rivers, claiming it contradicts the democratic ideals symbolized by June 12.
However, the Rivers caucus responded sharply on Friday through its leader, Kingsley Chinda.
At a press conference at the National Assembly, Chinda accused Dickson of making inflammatory and misleading remarks.
“The caucus warns Senator Dickson to stop inciting Rivers people,” Chinda said, calling on security agencies to monitor the senator and urging the Senate Committee on Ethics to investigate his conduct.
The caucus strongly rejected Dickson’s suggestion that Rivers is under military rule, clarifying that although the state’s current administrator, Vice Admiral (retd) Ibok-Ette Ibas, has a military background, he is now a civilian—just like Dickson, a former police officer.
“To label the administration as military rule is intellectually dishonest,” Chinda stated.
He explained that the state of emergency declared in Rivers was a constitutional move aimed at preventing chaos and restoring order, citing the Supreme Court’s February 28, 2025 ruling which stated that the state effectively had no functional government at the time.
“President Tinubu acted decisively to prevent violence and protect institutions,” Chinda said.
“The emergency declaration is lawful under Section 305 of the Constitution.”
The caucus also pointed out that even suspended Governor Siminilayi Fubara had publicly thanked the President for his intervention.
“It’s ironic that Dickson, a former governor and retired police officer, is now the one making comments that could fuel instability,” Chinda added, accusing him of promoting ethnic divisions and misleading the suspended governor during past visits.
The statement, signed by Chinda, Senator Barry Mpigi (Rivers South East), Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), and Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, concluded that Dickson is “not qualified or competent” to speak on protecting democracy.