Rivers Lawmakers Slam Senator Dickson Over Emergency Rule Remarks

By Oluwakemi Kindness

 

The Rivers State National Assembly Caucus has urged Bayelsa West Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson, to desist from interfering in the internal affairs of Rivers State.

This follows the senator’s recent comments criticising the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, described Dickson’s comments as “inflammatory and misleading,” particularly the claim that Rivers State is under military rule.

“Rivers State is not under military rule. The interim administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired officer. Just like Senator Dickson, who is a retired police corporal, he is now a civilian operating within the bounds of the law,” Chinda stated.

Chinda asserted that the emergency declaration was a lawful intervention aimed at restoring order in the state and was backed by Section 305 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

He referenced the Supreme Court’s February 28, 2025 judgment, which held that Rivers State lacked a functional government — a ruling that, he said, validated the Federal Government’s actions.

He further criticised Senator Dickson for calling for the reinstatement of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara during President Bola Tinubu’s June 12 Democracy Day speech, describing the move as a “deliberate attempt to stir unrest.”

“It is deeply unfortunate that a former governor and retired law enforcement officer would issue statements capable of disrupting public peace,” Chinda added.

Chinda also disclosed that even Governor Fubara had publicly appreciated the President for his timely intervention, casting Senator Dickson’s stance as both outdated and out of touch with current realities.

“Senator Dickson lacks the democratic credentials to lecture anyone on governance. His remarks are inciting and deserve to be investigated by security agencies and the Senate Committee on Ethics,” Chinda declared.

Supporting Chinda’s position, Senator Allwell Onyesoh advised Dickson to focus on addressing local issues in Bayelsa, rather than interfering in Rivers affairs.

“Bayelsa needs his energy more. He should redirect his activism to challenges within his own state,” Onyesoh said.

Other members of the Rivers National Assembly Caucus present at the briefing include:

* Senator Barry Mpigi

* Senator Allwell Onyesoh

* Hon. Dumnamene Dekor

* Hon. Solomon Bob

* Hon. Felix Nwaeke

* Hon. Kelechi Nwogu

* Hon. Cyril Hart Godwin

* Hon. Blessing Chigeru Amadi

* Hon. Victor Obuzor

The lawmakers insisted that the emergency rule in Rivers was a temporary, constitutional measure to safeguard peace and uphold democracy — not a militarisation of governance as claimed.