Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa West) Thursday vehemently expressed his disenchantment in the Senate over alleged entrenchment of emergency rule in Rivers state by President Bola Tinubu through gale of fresh appointments into vacant positions in some of the state-owned commissions.
President Bola Tinubu had in separate letters forwarded to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary, sought appointments of nominees into Rivers State Electoral Commission, Rivers State Local Government Service Commission and Rivers State Civil Service Commission.
Immediately after the letters were read by Akpabio, Dickson raised a point of order to express his displeasure on the presidential requests but rebuffed by the Senate President who called on the Senate Leader to move motion for senators to proceed to the House of Representatives for joint session with their counterparts in the House of Representatives.
Angered by the development, Senator Dickson immediately after the joint session which was addressed by President Tinubu, stormed the press centre at the Senate wing of the National Assembly, to express his anger to journalists.
Dickson at the press briefing said: ” Earlier today, while we were in the Senate chambers, you all witnessed the President’s communication regarding appointments in Rivers State being read by the Senate President, as required by Senate rules.
“You also witnessed me rise to raise a constitutional point of order, which I am entitled to do as a Senator. Unfortunately, the Senate President ignored it—he did not respond, did not acknowledge it, and brushed it aside.
“He rushed through the President’s communication and we moved on. That, again, is a blatant suppression and disrespect for my rights and privileges.
“Every Senator, regardless of party or position, has the constitutional right to raise issues. And the Senate President is duty-bound by our rules to acknowledge them. He may have the majority behind him, but my minority must still have its say. I will communicate my displeasure formally to him.
“Many of us were embarrassed , ashamed by that. It is troubling that on Democracy Day—a day that should symbolize freedom, civil rule, and justice—such communications were read without challenge.
“Why choose today, of all days, to affirm actions that are clearly undemocratic and illegal? It speaks volumes about what the ruling party, the APC, has reduced Nigerian democracy to.
“Yes, the President’s speech was impressive and flowery in parts. He made fine declarations of democratic ideals and principles. But as I always say, words are not enough. Democracy is not built by words. It is sustained by actions, actions and more actions.
“The President did well to honour those who fought for democracy. I, too, was a young man in the trenches during those days. He knows that. But you cannot claim to be a democrat on one hand, while trampling democracy underfoot on the other. The President missed a golden opportunity today to strengthen democracy by restoring constitutional rule in Rivers State.
“The silence on Rivers State in the President’s address was deafening. Today is not about repression. It’s not about the suppression of voices. It’s about upholding and respecting the democratic rights of Nigerians, especially the people of Rivers State”.
The presidential requests were however forwarded to the Ad – hoc Committee on Rivers State by the President of the Senate for expeditious consideration and approval.
