Bayelsa West Senator Accuses APC Of Politicising Terrorism, Others

Lawmaker representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of playing politics with terrorism, corruption and economy.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, the former Bayelsa State governor who is the Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs said the APC had treated grave security and economic challenges like a game, arguing that the consequences are now being borne by ordinary Nigerians.

“This confirms the view I have long held: that since its formation, the APC has always played politics with serious national issues such as corruption, terrorism, and the economy,” Dickson stated.

According to him, the ruling party “politicised and ethnicised the Boko Haram and terrorism challenges, which have escalated over the years under their watch, even with a President from the North.” He added that the same approach was applied to fuel subsidy reforms.

“They played politics with the attempt at reduction of fuel subsidy, but have now turned around to impose a harsher version of total subsidy removal, which has plunged Nigerians into poverty,” he said.

Dickson also accused the APC of running what he described as a selective anti-corruption campaign. “They played a one-sided anti-corruption crusade targeting and criminalising opposition leaders,” he alleged.

The senator’s comments followed the screening of ambassadorial nominees by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he serves as Vice Chairman. He disclosed that the committee earlier in the week screened President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees including Ayodele Oke, Kayode Are, and Aminu Dalhatu.

“As Senators of the Federal Republic serving on this Committee, we owe ourselves, the Senate, and the country a duty to ask relevant questions to clear the air on certain developments,” Dickson said, explaining why he raised questions during the screening.

He noted that he asked Ambassador Ayodele Oke to “clear the air on the controversies leading to his exit from office.” According to Dickson, Oke responded by outlining his achievements, explaining the circumstances of his departure, and presenting “a copy of a court order affirming his acquittal, following the withdrawal of the case against him.”

After hearing Oke’s explanation, Dickson said he became convinced the nominee had been unfairly treated. “I have no doubt that he was a victim of the APC’s misguided vendetta to criminalise the PDP and its leadership, just as they did to Sambo Dasuki, former NSA,” he argued.

While stressing that corruption remains a major national issue, the lawmakers cautioned against politicising it. “No one is against a well-structured and systematic, apolitical fight against corruption, but it must not target selected individuals or the opposition. It must be fought across board, as all are equal before the law,” he said.

Dickson further warned that key security institutions should be handled with care. “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as well as other security and intelligence institutions, must be handled with greater respect and discretion, even when issues of misconduct arise,” he said, describing them as “strategic tools in the hands of the President and the nation.”

He added that once a lawful order is given by a sitting President, intelligence chiefs deserve institutional protection. “Once an assignment, order, or objective is approved by a sitting President acting within his powers, and the order is not unlawful, the intelligence chief must be protected, even if we disagree with that order as politicians,” Dickson said.

On the outcome of the screening, the senator disclosed that he voted to clear all three nominees. “Following Mr. Oke’s explanation and the withdrawal of the case by the EFCC, which should not have started in the first place, I voted to clear Mr. Oke, and I congratulate him,” he said.

He added that Kayode Are and Aminu Dalhatu were also cleared, describing them as “very experienced and eminently qualified Nigerians,” and urged them “to do their best for the nation in the countries to which they will be posted.”

Dickson concluded by pledging continued oversight, noting simply: “We will be monitoring.”