Our State is not under military domain – Rivers Nass Caucus Contefii Dickson – Thage

By Victor Osula, Abuja

The state Caucus of the rivers in the national assembly criticized the position of the legislator that represents Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, which the state is under military domain.

Dickson, on Thursday, in reaction to the national speech of President Bola Tinubu on the day of democracy, expressed regret for the inability of the president to restore an democratically elected government in the state of spinners.

The leader of minorities in the room of representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who spoke on behalf of Caucus during a press briefing held in Abuja, accused the former governor of the state of Bayelsa of instigating the crisis in the state.

While claiming that Senator Dickson is seriously incompetent and unsuitable for pretending to protect democracy, Chinda accused him of desecrating the judiciary when he led criminals and armed men to disperse and interrupt the proceedings at a high federal court of the state while served as governor.

He said: “We are members of the state Caucus of the rivers in the National Assembly, which includes senators and members of the House of Representatives, and we have found to speak with the Nigerians on accidents that have occurred very recently. So you have this emergency printing briefing by the Caucus of the National Assembly of Rivers State.

“As members of the Caucus of State of the Rivers in the National Assembly, we saw with the total dismay the vituperations of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West Senatorial District in his Briefing Stampa, in which he expressed his anger for the emergency escape in the state of rivers and reproached the President of the Federal Republic for not having used his June address before the Governor to rest the Governor Siminayi in Office in Restanged a Restted a Rested Simalish in the office.

“Let it be categorically declared that Rivers State is not under military domain. The current state administrator, the deputy admiral (retired) IBOK-ETE IBAS, is a retired military officer, just like Senator Seriake Dickson is himself a retired police corporal, but a senator. Both cannot serve the staff of the Armed Forces.

“The implication of retirement is clear. Once an officer withdraws, he becomes a civil and any leadership role he occupies is subject to civil laws, rules and democratic supervision. To label the current administration as a military domain is, therefore, misleading and intellectually decending.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in the state of sparrows was a necessary constitutional intervention aimed at preserving peace, protecting life and restoring the institutional order. The decision was not taken slightly. It was pushed by the growing tide of political instability and executive spirits within the state.

“In addition, the contempt for democratic institutions was one of the reasons why we had that declaration. This position was also affirmed by the Supreme Court sentence of February 28, 2025, in which the Supreme Court clearly declared that there was actually no government in the state in the way it was in which it was operated on then.

“It is essential to emphasize that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has acted quickly and definitely to prevent the escalation of violence and the systemic failure that looked into our beloved state.

“The bold has avoided a crisis in full rule. Without that timely intervention, the orchestrated chaos would have overwhelmed the mechanism of governance and civil society in the state. The state of emergency declared in the state of the rivers is not a violation of the Constitution.

“Rather, it is a legitimate tool provided in section 305 of our Constitution to restore mental health when democratic structures are serious threaten. It is, in fact, only recently that the same suspended governor, the governor Siminalayi Fubara, has publicly thanked Mr. Bereaved.

“It is extremely unfortunate that a former governor, a Serving Senator, and a Redited Police Corporal—who, by Virtue of his Police Training, is Expected to Maintain Law and Order— Has decide to make Undemocratic Utteranges Capable of Causing a Breakdown of Law and Order in Rivers State, Whilst, Whilst. Indigenies of the State Are Still On the Path of Seeking Peace, in Order to Ensure that We Protect the Lives of Our People.

“Also remember that Dickson retired corporal, as governor in the service of the state of Bayelsa, desecrated the judiciary when he led the criminals and armed men to disperse and interrupt the proceedings of a federal court. With the antecedents of Senator Dickson, we clearly believe that it is not qualified. It is seriously incompetent and not managed to protect democracy.

“When he had the opportunity of CEO, his documents are there. They speak for themselves. Consequently, Caucus warns Senator Seriake Dickson. The state Caucus of the rivers unequivocally and clearly sends a warning to Senator Seriake Dickson to remain free from the beginning of the rivers in any form of violence or attempt to cause any breakage and order in our state.

“He comes from the state of Bayelsa. If he wants to cause problems or crisis everywhere, let him return to his state of origin and do it. We also send the security agencies to put a tongue on him and his actions, which are probable and able to cause a violation of peace, in particular now that the state is working to restore peace among our citizens.

“We also ask the Senate’s ethics commission to start an investigation into the actions not part of the senator Seriake Dickson. Like Caucus, we will be stopped to follow on this and ensure that this condemned attitude of Senator Seriake Dickson is completely faced.”

Even speaking, the president of the Senate Committee for the federal character, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, who warned Senator Dickson to avoid the state policy of the rivers, urged him to channel his energy to improve the infrastructure in Bayelsa.

He said: “First of all, I want to tell you that I absolutely align with what the leader of our Caucus, the minority leader of the room of representatives, has just told you. It is our collective vision and we all agree.

“Fortunately, I am in the same room in the Senate with Senator Seriake Dickson. And I know that those of us of the Niger delta have the utmost duty – our people have the utmost duty – to make a significant contribution. I am equally aware that the state of Bayelsa, in particular Bayelsa West, needs many activities to bring the dividends of democracy.

“I want to tell you that these things are missing. The appointments you see today in Bayelsa are the appointments that have obtained their relationship with Rivers State. I am not too sure that my colleague has attracted anyone in his state, nobody.

“I am also aware that one of the most backward states of the country in terms of infrastructure is Bayelsa. And therefore, this energy could be channeled towards activities that will improve the infrastructure problems of the state of Bayelsa.

“So, I join my colleague, Seriake Dickson, who should kill negative energy in our policy in the Niger delta.”

Other members of the Caucus are Senator Barry Mopigi, Hon. Dumnamne Dekor, Hon. Solomon Bob, Hon. Felix Nwaeke, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, Hon. Cyril Hart Godwin, Hon. Blessing Chigeru Amadi and Hon. Victor Buzzer.

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