Rivers lawmakers warn ex-Bayelsa gov against interference

The Rivers State National Assembly caucus has warned Senator Seriake Dickson, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District to stop mingling in the affairs of the state, following the senator’s condemnation of President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day outing at the parliament on Thursday.

The group also said the state is not under military rule dismissing Dickson’s assertion that Rivers was under military rule, explaining that the current administrator, Vice Admiral (retd) Ibok-Ette Ibas, is a civilian by law adding that Senator Dickson, a retired police corporal himself, should understand that retired officers are civilians.

Addressing a press conference at the National Assembly Complex on Friday, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the leader of the Rivers State National Assembly caucus noted that Senator Dickson’s utterances were not only inciteful but unbecoming of a lawmaker who equally had a security background as a former policeman.

The caucus maintained that President Bola Tinubu acted swiftly and decisively to prevent the escalation of violence and systemic breakdown that loomed over the state.

Dickson had on Thursday condemned Tinubu’s silence in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State during his address at a joint session of the National Assembly.

He further accused the Tinubu administration of backing unconstitutional governance in Rivers, saying it contradicted the spirit of June 12, which commemorates Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

But addressing journalists on Friday at the National Assembly, the leader of the rivers’ caucus at the National Assembly, Kingsley Chinda, described Dickson’s comments as inciting and unbecoming of a lawmaker with a background in law enforcement.

The statement was co-signed by Senators Barry Mpigi (Rivers South-East) and Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East); and House of Representatives members Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, Cyril Hart, Blessing Amadi, and Victor Obuzor.

The caucus insisted that the emergency rule in Rivers was a constitutional response to political instability, citing the Supreme Court’s February 28, 2025 ruling that there was no government in the state.

He accused Dickson of promoting ethnic bias and misleading Fubara during his visits, which allegedly led to the governor’s suspension.