By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Quite a number of people had high hopes that suspended Governor of Rivers State, was going to be reinstated on June 12. The rumors were very strong.
The reinstatement, they said, would be announced during President Bola Tinubu’s joint address at the National Assembly to mark the 2025 Democracy Day.
What is not known is if the suspended Governor was expectant to because, suddenly, he was speaking with confidence, like one very sure-footed. Whatever, it came to nought. The expectation was dashed.
The President did not as much as mention the political crisis in Rivers State. Not one word. No reference. And not a few were at one angry and disappointed.
One of them is a
former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, popular as “Countryman”.
He queried President Bola Ahmed Tinunbu over his continued gloating of the political impasse in Rivers state.
The President had on March 18, 2025, appointed a Sole Administrator for the oil rich State
after declaring an emergency rule and suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy ,and the State Lawmakers.
However, while addressing the Media after the President’s address during a joint seating of the National Assembly,on Thursday; Senator Dickson accused the President of practicing autocracy while preaching democracy.
He, particularly, took exception to the President’s silence on the political situation in neighbouring Rivers state.
Dickson expressed serious disappointment that the President failed to use the opportunity of his visit to the National Assembly to bring back Governor Fubara and other democratically elected Rivers State functionaries.
“This is not about Governor Fubara. It is not about political parties. It is about the people of Rivers State and the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
“If Rivers can be treated this way today, what stops it from being Lagos or Kano tomorrow?
“You cannot be preaching democracy and practicing autocracy. President Tinubu’s speech was beautifully written, but his silence on Rivers betrays a troubling disregard for the rule of law.
He accused President Tinubu of legitimizing a constitutional aberration, and military-style suppression of democracy through his curious and sturdy silence on the unfortunate development in Rivers State.”
Instructively, at the heart of Senator Dickson’s anger was a communication from the President to the Senate on the situation in Rivers State, which was read out by the Senate president during plenary.
However, the Senate President, curiously shut down all attempts by Senator Dickson to raise a constitutional point of order, immediately after the reading of the Presidential communication.
“My right as a Senator to raise constitutional issue was completely disregarded. The Senate President rushed through the President’s message ,and ignored my intervention.
“That is not how democracy works That is the way of military dictatorship.
“It is deeply ironic that on a day meant to celebrate the triumph of civil authority, the Senate is endorsing actions that undermine the constitution.
“Why read this communication today of all days ,if not to send a chilling message about the Federal overreach ?” Dickson fumed .
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