Seriake Dickson Speaks Out: Why He Walked Out On The Senate's Emergency Declaration

Why Seriake Dickson Walked Out of the Senate Chamber

Let me tell you something, folks. When Seriake Dickson, the senator representing Bayelsa West, walked out of the Senate chamber during the approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State, it wasn’t a casual decision. Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa and a member of the opposition PDP, made it crystal clear that he wasn’t okay with the way things were unfolding. In his view, the move was unconstitutional and a direct threat to the democratic principles we all hold dear.

Dickson didn’t keep quiet about his stance. He took to his verified Facebook page on Thursday to share his thoughts. He wasn’t alone in his opposition; Senators Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto South, Eyinnaya Abaribe from Abia South, and a handful of others stood with him against the emergency proclamation. But here’s the kicker—they weren’t given the chance to air their grievances openly during the plenary session. The Senate approved the emergency declaration after a closed-door session that lasted about an hour and twenty minutes.

Now, picture this: it’s around 1:40 p.m., and Dickson is visibly upset. He walks out of the chamber shortly after senators emerge from that closed session. And let’s not forget the earlier disagreement between Dickson and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Dickson had raised a point of order, arguing that the Nigerian President should brief the Senate in a closed-door session about the circumstances surrounding the emergency declaration. But alas, it didn’t go as planned.

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Dickson's Stand: Upholding the Constitution

Here’s the thing about Dickson—he’s not just throwing stones for the sake of it. His opposition to the emergency rule is rooted in his commitment to upholding the Constitution, not political games. He criticized the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, warning that it could set a dangerous precedent, one that could weaken democracy in Nigeria.

In his own words, Dickson said, “Today at the sitting of the Senate, the issue of the President’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State came up for discussion. As I’ve stated repeatedly, I raised my objections in the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my view as a Democrat, sworn to uphold the Nigerian Constitution.”

He went on to express gratitude to Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his strong support of the unconstitutionality of the declaration, particularly regarding the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State. But Dickson wasn’t happy with the Senate’s refusal to conduct an open debate. He left before the Senate President reported the outcome because he didn’t want to be present while something he opposed was being reported.

Dickson's Call for Judicial Intervention

Even though both chambers of the National Assembly have ratified the emergency rule declaration, Dickson believes there’s still a chance for the judiciary to step in if the proclamation is legally challenged. He emphasized, “The beauty of democracy is such that the minority will have their say while the majority have their way. I would have wished for a more robust and open debate so that all views and opinions could be openly discussed. But as it stands, both chambers have decided, and the ball is now in the court of the other arms of government, especially the judiciary, in the event of any challenge.”

Dickson accused the Senate President of trying to silence him, saying his right to freedom of expression was undermined when he tried to raise the point of order. He pointed out, “My attention has also been drawn to a viral video showing parts of the unfortunate exchanges between the Senate President and me before we dissolved into the closed session. As I said on the floor, the Senate President was very unfair to me by trying to censor my freedom of expression.”

Standing Firm Against Intimidation

Dickson isn’t one to back down, even in the face of intimidation. He stated, “I thank all those who have called to commend my composure under unnecessary and unexpected attempts at intimidation. Everyone, including the Senate President, knows I have long gone beyond that stage in my life.”

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He reiterated, “The Senate, as I said, is a meeting of equals, and everyone should be respected just as we accord respect to the Chair. No senator needs the permission of the Senate President to express an opinion in an interview on a topical matter of national interest that’s in the public domain.”

Dickson plans to meet with the Senate President to formally express his displeasure, hoping to prevent similar incidents in the future. He thanked his constituents, Nigerians, and all people of goodwill who have shown solidarity. He urged them not to be dismayed by the direction our democracy seems to have taken.

Dickson’s Final Word: A Call to Duty

Dickson concluded by pledging to formally express his displeasure to the Senate leadership. He encouraged Nigerians to stand firm for democracy, stating, “For someone like me who has been in the trenches over the years, all these challenges are actually a call to duty. I implore all people of goodwill to come together and ensure that participatory democracy is promoted in our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Rivers State.”