“You Can’t Celebrate Democracy While Trampling It,” Dickson Criticizes Tinubu’s Silence
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, has sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to address the ongoing emergency rule in Rivers State during his Democracy Day speech.
Speaking to journalists after the joint session of the National Assembly, Dickson said the President missed a critical opportunity on June 12—a day symbolizing Nigeria’s democratic struggles—to restore constitutional governance in Rivers State.
“You cannot claim to be a democrat on one hand while trampling democracy underfoot on the other,” Dickson declared. “President Tinubu missed a golden opportunity to strengthen democracy by ending the emergency rule in Rivers State.”
He described the President’s silence on the matter as “deafening” and insisted that Democracy Day should be a time to celebrate freedom, accountability, and respect for the rule of law—not to ignore blatant suppression of democratic rights.
Dickson emphasized that this issue transcends political parties or individual politicians: “This is about the people of Rivers State, their democratic rights, and the sanctity of our Constitution.”
The senator accused President Tinubu of pandering to political interests and warned that allowing emergency rule in one state could set a precedent for other states.
“What happens today in Rivers could happen tomorrow in Lagos or Kano,” he warned. “No one holds power forever. If we allow this, what stops a future president from declaring emergency rule anywhere, sacking elected officials, appointing administrators, and ruling from Abuja?”
President Tinubu had declared emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, dissolving the elected government and appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator for six months. The National Assembly ratified the declaration on March 20. The move has faced widespread criticism.
Dickson challenged the President’s Democracy Day celebration, saying: “If you have a military-style administration in the middle of a democracy, how can you celebrate Democracy Day without addressing it?”
While describing Tinubu’s speech as “flowery” and “otherwise impressive,” Dickson insisted that “words don’t show democratic commitment, actions do.”
“You cannot celebrate democracy while trampling on it under your presidential foot,” he added.
He noted that many Nigerians had hoped President Tinubu would announce the lifting of the emergency rule on June 12.
“As long as any part of Nigeria is under military rule, democracy is endangered everywhere,” Dickson warned, calling on all government branches to recommit to protecting democratic institutions and upholding citizens’ constitutional rights.
