You cannot preach democracy & still be practicing autocracy—Senator Dickson Slams Tinubu Over Rivers Emergency Rule
Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to use the symbolic occasion of Democracy Day to end what he described as the “military-style suppression of democracy” in Rivers State.
Speaking on Thursday, Dickson said the president had missed a critical opportunity to restore constitutional governance in Rivers, where a state of emergency has been in place since March 2025.
“You cannot claim to be a democrat on paper and trample on democracy in practice. The President missed a golden opportunity today (yesterday) to restore constitutional order in Rivers,” he declared.
The emergency rule, declared by President Tinubu via a nationwide broadcast, led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for a period of six months.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas was appointed as the state’s sole administrator.
Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, Tinubu justified the drastic move as necessary to restore order in the state, which had been rocked by a bitter political feud between Governor Fubara and former governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, over control of the state’s political structure.
The declaration of emergency was subsequently ratified by the National Assembly following the president’s formal request.
Since then, Ibas has overseen governance in Rivers, while Fubara has continued consultations with key stakeholders in a bid to resolve the crisis.
However, Senator Dickson, who had vocally opposed the move and even staged a walkout from the Senate chamber over the matter, maintained that the action represented an egregious overreach by the executive.
“This is not about Governor Fubara or any party. It is about the people of Rivers State and the sanctity of our democratic institutions. Today, it is Rivers, tomorrow, it could be Lagos or Kano,” Dickson warned.
He likened the events in Rivers to previous incidents during the last general elections, claiming both reflected a broader pattern of democratic backsliding under Tinubu’s leadership.
“What happened in Lagos during the elections was a power grab. What is happening in Rivers is a continuation of that trend. We cannot build democracy on a foundation of repression and silence,” he stated.
The former Bayelsa governor accused the Tinubu-led administration of using federal influence to legitimize “unconstitutional governance” in Rivers State and described such actions as fundamentally incompatible with the spirit of June 12, a day that commemorates Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle.
“It’s deeply ironic that on a day meant to celebrate the triumph of civil authority, the Senate is endorsing actions that undermine the Constitution. You cannot preach democracy and practice autocracy.”
“President Tinubu’s speech was beautifully written, but his silence on Rivers betrays a troubling disregard for the rule of law,” Dickson said.
Rejecting claims that his stance was politically motivated, Dickson emphasized that his opposition was based on principle and a commitment to democratic integrity.
“This is not just about one state or one governor. This is about our collective future. The struggle of June 12 wasn’t just about voting, it was about dignity, justice, and the voice of the people. We must not betray that legacy,” he concluded.
Senator Dickson called on Nigerians across party lines, regions, and ethnic groups to defend democratic principles and uphold constitutional values, warning that silence in the face of repression could endanger the nation’s democratic future.
