Suspension: Dickson Speaks On Political Issues In Rivers State

By Preye Bagou, Yenagoa

Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has expressed his concerns about the political issues in Rivers State, during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday evening.

The federal lawmaker made this known through his official facebook handle, described the suspension of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy and members of the state house of assembly, as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Dickson said the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) does not support the removal or suspension of elected officials of government by the president as lawfully elected officials by the people of the state.

While condemning the decision, he said the elected officials have a constitutionally guaranteed tenure that is sacred subject to the conditions laid down by the constitution, and an emergency rule is not a way of ending their tenure.

The former helmsman said the state of emergency as imposed will rather heighten the insecurity in the state, and create more political problems than it will solve in the future, stressing that he hope to vote against it, during senate plenary.

The statement read in parts: “Today, I was at Arise Television as a guest to speak on the issues in Rivers State, and specifically on the state of emergency declared by the President.

“I made the case that, in my view, it is unconstitutional, and it falls short of the constitutional threshold. And in any case, the constitution does not support the removal of elected officials, in this case, Governor Fubara, his Deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly.

“They have a constitutionally guaranteed tenure, which is sacred subject to the conditions laid down by the constitution. An emergency rule is not a way of ending their tenure.

“I also said that emergency rule has never solved any political problem. I repeated my call for all our people not to see it as an ethnic war against the Ikwerre people, our brothers and neighbours with whom we don’t have any problems. It is simply a political crisis within a political family; a dispute between a godfather and his godson.

“I have since maintained that consultations be deepened and both parties be prevailed upon. The President has a role to play; after all, the Minister of FCT is his appointee, and everyone else has to be part of it.

“All leaders of goodwill have to join hands to create a condition that will bring about a political solution.

“It is my view, with the knowledge of the area, that a state of emergency, as imposed, will heighten insecurity and create more political problems than it will solve, and I hope to vote against it.

“I want to thank my colleagues who are of a similar view. Let us pray for peace and stability to prevail in Rivers State.

Reporting: Hot News Reporters