Senator Dickson Senator opens up on his walkout from plenary over Rivers Emergency rule

The National Assembly, Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, staged a walkout from the Senate chamber in protest against the approval of President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State.

The Senate, on March 20, granted the president’s request via a voice vote, bypassing the constitutionally required two-thirds majority for such a significant decision. The move sparked controversy, with Dickson labelling it as unconstitutional.

The former governor of Bayelsa State, in a strongly worded statement, criticized the Senate’s handling of the matter, revealing that other senators, including Aminu Tambuwal and Enyinnaya Abaribe, also opposed the resolution and exited the chamber in protest.

“Today at the sitting of the Senate, the issue of the President’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State came up for discussion. As I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections in the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription,” Dickson stated.

He expressed disappointment that the Senate failed to allow an open debate on the matter, instead pushing through the decision without the opportunity for extensive deliberation.

Dickson commended Senator Tambuwal for his vocal opposition, particularly regarding the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State. He emphasized that despite dissenting voices, the Senate proceeded with approving the emergency rule.

“I left the plenary 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,” he disclosed. “Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe, and others also left in protest.”

He further urged the judiciary to intervene and safeguard the people of Rivers State, stating, “The beauty of democracy is such that the minority will have their say while the majority will have their way.”

In a separate development, Dickson accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of attempting to censor him during plenary. He claimed that Akpabio misrepresented his statements and denied him the opportunity to properly express his views.

“As I said on the floor, the Senate President was very unfair to me by trying to censor my freedom of expression and deliberately misrepresenting my remarks,” he lamented.

He asserted that senators should be free to express their opinions on national matters without needing approval from the Senate leadership. “No senator needs the permission of the Senate President to express an opinion in an interview on a topical matter of national interest,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator for Rivers State during the emergency rule. The decision was ratified by the National Assembly on Thursday through a voice vote, further solidifying the federal government’s control over the state’s administration.

Dickson, however, remains resolute in his stance against the emergency rule and has vowed to express his displeasure to the Senate leadership formally.

“For someone like me who has been in the trenches over the years, these challenges are a call to duty. I urge all people of goodwill to unite and ensure participatory democracy is upheld in our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Rivers State.”