The Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly, on Friday, scolded Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) for taking a swipe at President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in the South-south state.
The lawmakers at a press conference in Abuja insisted that Rivers State is not under military rule as the current administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired military officer, just as Senator Dickson himself is a retired Police Corporal.
Chairman of the caucus and House minority leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, argued that both the Bayelsa lawmaker and Rivers Sole Administrator cannot be said to be serving personnel of the Armed Forces.
“The implication of retirement is clear: once an officer retires, he becomes a civilian, and any leadership role he occupies is subject to civilian laws, norms, and democratic oversight. To label the current administration as “military rule” is, therefore, misleading and intellectually disingenuous.
“Senator Dickson’s attempt to portray the emergency rule as military governance is not only false but intellectually dishonest,” Chinda stated. “The current Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired officer now functioning under civilian authority. Just as Senator Dickson, a retired police corporal, is no longer an active service member, Ibas too is a civilian. It is grossly inaccurate to insinuate that Rivers is under military rule.”
Chinda emphasised that the emergency rule followed due constitutional process, citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in situations that threaten national security and public order.
“Even Governor Fubara himself publicly thanked President Tinubu for stepping in to avert total anarchy. It is therefore curious that Senator Dickson, an outsider to our state, has chosen to champion a false narrative and stir up tension.
“It is unfortunate that a former governor and serving senator, who should understand the responsibilities that come with leadership, is engaging in divisive rhetoric capable of igniting violence,” he noted.
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