I exited the meeting before the senate president started reporting the results since I did not wish to be around when what I disagreed with was announced. I think Senators Tambuwal, Abaribe, and others also chose to leave.
Bayelsa Senator West Seriake Dickson stated that he left the Senate chamber prior to the body voting for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, as he felt this measure was not in accordance with the constitution.
Mr. Dickson, a previous governor of Bayelsa and a member of the opposing People's Democratic Party (PDP), mentioned that alongside Senators Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto South and Eyinnaya Abaribe from Abia South, among a few others, he opposed the proclamation. However, they did not get the chance to publicly discuss this matter during the full assembly session.
He made these remarks in a post he shared on his verified Facebook account on Thursday.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, the Senate endorsed the emergency regulation following a private meeting that spanned approximately one hour and 20 minutes.
Nevertheless, Mr. Dickson, clearly distressed, left the chamber Around 1:40 p.m., shortly after the senators exited the meeting.
Previously, Mr. Dickson had a small dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio before the senators entered the private meeting. This disagreement centered around a procedural issue that mandates the Nigerian president must address the Senate behind closed doors regarding the reasons for declaring a state of emergency.
Unconstitutional emergency rule?
Mr. Dickson, who previously served as a member of the House of Representatives, contended that the absence of an open discussion on this crucial matter goes against the tenets of democracy.
He stated that his stance against the emergency rule stemmed from his dedication to adhering to the Constitution rather than from a political standpoint.
He particularly took issue with the suspension of elected leaders in Rivers State, contending that this action might establish a perilous example capable of eroding democratic principles across the nation.
At today’s meeting of the Senate, we addressed the matter concerning the President's imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State. As I've consistently maintained, during the private session, I voiced my concerns about how this declaration did not align with what our Constitution stipulates, reflecting my stance as a democrat committed to defending Nigeria's constitution.
The Senate chose not to hold the discussion during an open session; nonetheless, it was quite intense. "I would like to express my gratitude to Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his firm backing regarding the unconstitutionality of the declaration, particularly concerning the part about suspending the elected members of the Rivers State government," he stated.
Mr. Dickson showed discontent over the Senate’s decision not to hold a public discussion on the issue, which might have resulted in most senators backing the approval.
By the close of proceedings, most senators backed the declaration since no opportunity was provided for a thorough discussion during the full assembly session. Before the Senate President could announce the result, I departed from the chamber; I did not wish to witness the reporting of my opposing viewpoint. I suspect Senators Tambuwal, Abaribe, and several others also chose to leave early.
I wish to emphasize that as I have consistently mentioned, I opposed the proclamation during our private meeting and cast my vote accordingly. This stance was supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal along with several other senators who were not granted permission to address the gathering. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to all the senators who aligned with the perspective that I strongly advocated.
"However, I recognize the attempts to alter the declaration due to the concerns and perspectives we've discussed over the last several days. While I appreciate the leadership and President’s endeavors to soften the declaration's wording and establish an oversight system, this approach doesn’t address the core constitutional concern," he said.
Call for judicial intervention
Mr. Dickson stated that even though both houses of the National Assembly have approved the emergency rule declaration, the judicial system might still step in if the decree faces legal challenges.
The charm of democracy lies in allowing the minority to express their viewpoints while the majority gets to decide the course of action. I had hoped for a more vigorous and transparent discussion where every perspective could be thoroughly aired, just as I asked during our private sessions particularly, followed by letting the majority proceed with their chosen path. However, things stand differently now; both legislative bodies have made up their minds, placing matters into the hands of the remaining branches of government—especially the judicial branch—if anyone wishes to contest this decision.
Censoring freedom of expression
Mr. Dickson charged the Senate President with trying to suppress his voice.
He stated that his ability to exercise his freedom of speech was restricted when he attempted to address an issue regarding the constitutional mandate requiring the Nigerian president to inform the Senate about the justifications for declaring a state of emergency.
I have similarly noticed a widely circulated video capturing portions of the unpleasant interaction between the Senate President and myself prior to our move into the private meeting.
What I stated earlier remains true; the Senate President acted unjustly towards me by attempting to suppress my right to free speech and by inaccurately portraying the essence of my comments from yesterday’s broadcast, which mirrored precisely what I expressed here today. Fundamentally, I oppose the proclamation of a state of emergency along with the removal of elected representatives.
Resisting intimidation
Mr. Dickson similarly brushed off all efforts to scare him, asserting that his dedication to democracy stays unwavering.
I am grateful to everyone who has reached out to praise my calm demeanor amid an unwarranted and sudden effort to intimidate me. Both the public and figures like the Senate President are aware that this phase of my life is well behind me.
As mentioned, the Senate consists of members who are all considered equal, and each individual deserves respect similar to how we honor the Chair. There’s no requirement for any Senator to seek approval from the Senate President when sharing their views in an interview about a current national issue that is publicly known.
I plan to meet with the Senate President to officially convey my dissatisfaction and avoid similar incidents in the future. I am grateful to my constituents, fellow Nigerians, and everyone showing support for reaching out. I encourage them not to lose hope regarding the course our democracy seems to be following.
The senator committed to officially convey his dissatisfaction to the Senate leaders and urged Nigerians to support democracy.
"Having spent many years in the thick of things, I view these challenges as a clarion call to action for everyone with good intentions. Thus, I urge all individuals committed to positive change to unite and work towards advancing participatory democracy within our nation. My thoughts and prayers go out to the residents of Rivers State," he stated.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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