The Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly on Friday questioned the rights of former Bayelsa state governor to speak on issues of the emergency rule in Rivers state, saying the state was not under any military rule as the Sole Administrator is a retired military officers.
Addressing Assembly correspondents, Leader of the caucus, Kingsley Chinda said the emergency rule declared in Rivers state was clearly a matter of necessity aimed at restoring law and order in the state.
He said this was attested to by the suspended governor who recently thanked the President for declaring the state of emergency in the state and accused Senatie Dickson of decieving Fubara to make continous mistakes until he was suspended from office.
Chinda asked the Senate Committee on Ethics to immediately commence an investigation into the utterances of Senator Dickson which he said were unparliamentary
He said, “As members of the River State Caucus in the National Assembly, we watched with utter dismay the vituperations of Senator Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayessa West senatorial district in his press briefing, wherein he expressed his anger at the emergency rule in River State and chided the President of the Federal Republic for not using his June 12 address before the National Assembly to restore suspended Governor Sim Fubara to office.
“Let it be categorically stated that River State is not under military rule. The current Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Retired Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired military officer, just as Senator Seriake Dickson is himself a retired Police Corporal, but a serving senator.
“Both of them cannot be serving personnel of the Armed Forces. The implication of retirement is clear. Once an officer retires, he becomes a civilian and any leadership role he occupies is subject to civilian laws, norms, and democratic oversight.
“To label the current administration as military rule is therefore misleading and intellectually disingenuous.
“The declaration of the state of emergency in River State was a necessary constitutional intervention aimed at preserving peace, protecting lives, and restoring institutional order. The decision was not taken lightly. It was prompted by the rising tide of political instability and executive rascality within the state.
“Also, the disregard for democratic institutions was one of the reasons why we had that declaration.
“This position was also affirmed by the Supreme Court judgment of February 28, 2025, wherein the Supreme Court clearly stated that there was indeed no government in the state the way it was being operated then.
“It is imperative to highlight that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acted swiftly and decisively to prevent the escalation of violence and systemic breakdown that loomed over our beloved state. The bold step averted a full-blown crisis.
“Without that timely intervention, orchestrated chaos would have overwhelmed the mechanism of governance and civil society in the state.
“The state of emergency declared in Rivers state is not a breach of the constitution. Rather, it is a legitimate tool provided in section 305 of our constitution to restore sanity when democratic structures are under serious threat. In fact, only recently, the suspended governor himself, Governor Sim Fubara publicly thanked Mr. President for saving the day when he declared the state of emergency in River State.
“Therefore, Senator Sereike Dickson, the retired Police Corporal, cannot cry more than the bereaved.
“It is extremely unfortunate that a former governor, a serving senator and a retired police corporal, who by virtue of his police training is surposed to maintain law and order, decided to make undemocratic uttrances capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in River State, whilst indigenes of the state are still on the path of seeking for peace for us to ensure that we protect the lives of our people in this state.
“It is on record that Senator Diickson, in one of his numerous visits to the suspended governor, promoted ethnic bigotry and biases that misled the governor and ultimately led to his suspension. Senator Dickson is at it again.
“Recall, too, that the retired Corporal Dickson as a serving governor of Bayelsa State, desecrated the judiciary when he led thugs and armed men to disperse and disrupt proceedings of a Federal High Court.
“With the antecedent of Senator Dickson, we clearly hold that he is not qualified. He is grossly incompetent and unfit to claim to protect democracy. When he had the opportunity as a chief executive, his records are there. They speak for themselves.
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“Consequently, the caucus questions Senator Seriake Dickson, the River State caucus, unequivocally and clearly sends a clear caution and warning to Senator Seriake Dickson to stay clear from inciting Rivers people into any form of violence or attempting to cause any breakdown of law and order in our state.
“He is from Bayelsa state. If he wants to cause problem or crisis anywhere, let him go back to his home and do so. We will also call on the security agencies to put a tab on him and his actions, which are likely and capable of causing a breach of peace, particularly now that the state is working towards restoring peace amongst our citizens.
“We will also call on the Senate Committee on Ethics to commence investigation into the unparliamentary actions of Seriake Dickson and as a caucus, we will stand firm to follow up on this and ensure that this attitude, condemnable attitude of Seriake Dickson is completely addressed”.
Speaking at the briefing, Senator Orwell Onyesor said it was a collective decision to condemn the actions of Senstor Dickson, adding that Bayelsa West where Dickson represents needs more of the activism he he exhibiting in Rivers matters