By George Ozalla
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, has expressed strong objections to the Senate’s handling of President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State. In a statement, Dickson revealed that he raised concerns about the declaration’s constitutionality during a closed session, but was disappointed by the lack of transparency and open debate on the matter.
Dickson thanked Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his support in opposing the declaration, particularly the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State. Despite his efforts, the majority of senators supported the proclamation.
The senator also addressed a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which was captured in a viral video. Dickson accused Akpabio of trying to censor his freedom of expression and misrepresenting his statements.
Dickson emphasized the importance of participatory democracy and urged Nigerians to come together to promote transparency and accountability in governance. He also expressed solidarity with the people of Rivers State, who are affected by the state of emergency declaration.
The Senate did not undertake the debate in an open session however, it was quite robust. I want to thank Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his strong support of the unconstitutionality of the declaration, especially the aspect that deals with the suspension of the elected officials of the Rivers State government.
At the end of the day, majority of the senators supported the proclamation as no room was given for an open debate at plenary. 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 is being reported. I believe Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe and others equally left too.
I want to make it clear that as I stated repeatedly, I spoke and voted against the proclamation in our closed session, supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and a few other senators who were not recognized to speak.
And so I want to thank all the senators who shared the view that I vigorously canvassed.
I am however aware of the efforts made to modify the declaration as a result of the concerns and views we have expressed and canvassed the past few days. Though 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.
The beauty of democracy is such that the minority will have their say while the majority their way. I would have wished for a more robust and open debate so that all views and opinions can be openly canvassed as I requested even at the closed session specifically and thereafter, the majority can have their way but as it is, both chambers have decided and the ball is now on the court of the other arms of government, especially the judiciary, in the event of any challenge.
My attention has also been drawn to a viral video showing parts of the unfortunate exchanges between the Senate President and I before we desolved to the closed session.
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 yesterday which was the same thing I said on the floor today. It is my opposition in principle to the declaration of a state of emergency, as well as the suspension of elected officials.
