Senator Dickson calls Akpabio’s senate sycophants and bootlickers, says Tinubu can’t celebrate democracy while suppressing it in Rivers

Senator Dickson calls Akpabio’s senate sycophants and bootlickers, says Tinubu can’t celebrate democracy while suppressing it in Rivers

 

 

Senator Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State and current representative of Bayelsa West Senatorial District, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a deafening silence on the “undemocratic governance” taking place in Rivers State.

Speaking to reporters after President Tinubu’s Democracy Day address at the joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, Dickson expressed dismay that the President failed to acknowledge the ongoing political crisis in Rivers, including the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the appointment of a sole administrator — developments he called unconstitutional and dangerous.

“The President cannot celebrate democracy while presiding over its suppression in Rivers State,” Dickson said. “His silence on this matter during a Democracy Day speech is telling and deeply disappointing.”

Tensions escalated during Thursday’s plenary session in the Senate when letters from President Tinubu were read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, listing nominees for key commissions in Rivers State.

 

The appointments — affecting the Independent Electoral Commission, Local Government Service Commission, and Civil Service Commission — were read moments before lawmakers proceeded to the joint session.

 

Dickson, who attempted to raise a constitutional point of order over the President’s communications, was reportedly ignored by Akpabio.

“You saw me rise to raise a constitutional point of order. Unfortunately, the Senate President ignored it. That, again, is a blatant suppression of my rights and privileges as a Senator,” he said.

He described the atmosphere in the chamber as “embarrassing” and accused Senate leadership of enabling “military-style governance” through its inaction.

“The communication from the President was essentially about deepening undemocratic, unconstitutional governance. To present it on Democracy Day, without debate or dissent, sends a troubling message,” he said.

Dickson also criticized Akpabio, calling him a “sycophant” surrounded by “bootlickers,” accusing the Senate President of undermining democratic values and silencing opposition voices within the chamber.

“Every Senator, regardless of party or seniority, has the right to be heard. This Senate is not a monarchy, and the President of the Senate is not an emperor,” Dickson said.

He acknowledged portions of Tinubu’s speech that paid tribute to the heroes of democracy but said such praise rang hollow without concrete action to uphold democratic norms.

“You cannot honour democracy with one hand and trample on it with the other,” he said. “We fought for this democracy. Some were jailed. Some died. Democracy is sustained not by cowards or sycophants, but by people with the courage to speak truth to power.”

Dickson warned that tolerating unconstitutional actions in one state sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country.

“This is not just about Rivers State. Today it’s Rivers — tomorrow it could be Lagos, Kano, or any other state. No one stays in power forever,” he cautioned.

 

He concluded by urging fellow lawmakers and Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend constitutional democracy.

“Democracy thrives when we protect it — not just in words, but in action,” he said.