Why I Opposed Rivers Emergency Rule During Closed Session, Tambuwal Deserves Commendation -Senator Seriake Dickson

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has disclosed that he opposed and spoke against President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare state of emergency in Rivers State during the closed session held by the senate on Thursday describing the declaration of state of emergency in the ‘Treasure Base of the Nation’ as unconstitutional.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Dickson, a one-time governor of Bayelsa State, who commented on the issue in an X.com post on Friday, insisted that the declaration of emergency in Rivers State fell short of constitutional requirements.

‘As I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections during the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my views as a democrat sworn to uphold the Nigerian Constitution’ he said.

Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West, also commended Senator Aminu Tambuwal for picking holes in the decision to suspend political office holders in Rivers State.

 ‘I want to thank Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his strong support for the unconstitutionality of the declaration, especially the aspect that deals with the suspension of the elected Rivers State government officials’ he said.

The senator has also condemned what took place during the closed session on Thursday.

 ‘I left the parliament chamber before the Senate President was directed to report the outcome because I didn’t want to be present while what I opposed was being reported.

I spoke and voted against the proclamation during our closed session, supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and a few other senators who were not recognized to speak’ he added.

Dickson noted that there are ongoing efforts to modify the declaration but maintained that the fundamental issue of constitutionality remains unresolved.

‘Although, I acknowledge the effort being made by the leadership and President to moderate the terms of the declaration and to create a mechanism for oversight, theoretically, this does not counter the primary issue of constitutionality.

 As I said on the floor, the Senate President was very unfair to me by trying to censor my freedom of expression and by deliberately misrepresenting the import of what I said in the broadcast on Wednesday, which was the same thing I said on the floor yesterday’ he submitted.

The former Bayelsa State governor expressed gratitude to those who commended his composure during what he described as an ‘unexpected attempt at intimidation’, asserting that ‘the Senate is a meeting of equals, and everyone should be respected just as we accord respect to the Chair’.

Senators, he noted,  do not need the permission of the Senate President to express their views on national issues, he will therefore formally discuss his concerns with the Senate President to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

He assured his constituents and Nigerians at large that he remains committed to defending democratic principles.

‘For someone like me who has been in the trenches over the years, all these challenges are actually a call to duty, and I, therefore, implore all people of goodwill to come together and ensure that participatory democracy is promoted in our country’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you