“Stop Weeping More Than The Bereaved! – Rivers Lawmakers Blast Dickson Over Emergency Criticism

Members of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly have strongly criticized Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) over his remarks concerning the recent state of emergency declared in Rivers State.

Speaking to journalists on Friday in Abuja, ten lawmakers from Rivers expressed deep disappointment at Senator Dickson’s press briefing, where he denounced the emergency declaration and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his June 12 Democracy Day speech to reinstate suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The lawmakers stressed that Rivers is not under military rule, pointing out that the state’s current administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired naval officer—just like Dickson, who is a former police corporal. Neither, they argued, is an active military figure.

They labeled Dickson’s depiction of the situation as “military rule” both “misleading” and “intellectually dishonest.”

According to them, the state of emergency was declared through constitutional means, triggered by escalating political tension, executive misconduct, and open disregard for democratic norms. They cited the Supreme Court’s February 28, 2025 ruling which asserted that “there was no government in Rivers State.”

The caucus maintained that President Tinubu acted within the bounds of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to restore peace and order.

“The president’s timely intervention prevented a total breakdown of governance. Without it, Rivers State could have descended into chaos,” they stated.

They also noted that Governor Fubara himself had previously expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for stepping in—suggesting Dickson’s outrage was misplaced.

“Senator Dickson cannot be more aggrieved than the actual party involved,” they added.

The caucus further accused Dickson of stoking ethnic division through his visits to the suspended governor, suggesting he bears some responsibility for the current political turmoil.

“It is deeply regrettable that a former governor and serving senator—trained in law enforcement—would make remarks that could incite unrest,” they concluded.