Dickson Slams Tinubu Over Silence on Rivers State During Democracy Day Speech
Senator Seriake Dickson , representing Bayelsa West, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for failing to address the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State during his Democracy Day speech.
Speaking to journalists after the joint session of the National Assembly marking Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary, Dickson condemned what he called a “military-style suppression of democracy” in Rivers.
He expressed deep disappointment over the President’s silence on the state’s governance issues.
“Let me begin by wishing Nigerians a Happy Democracy Day—even though one could ask—are Nigerians truly happy today?” he said.
“Democracy is about hope, but what we saw in the Senate chamber was a mockery of that hope.”
Senate Session Turns Heated Over Presidential Communication
During the Democracy Day plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a communication from the presidency regarding political appointments in Rivers State.
Dickson attempted to raise a constitutional point of order—but said his right as a Senator was completely ignored.
“The Senate President rushed through the President’s communication and brushed aside my intervention,” he said.
“That is a blatant suppression and disrespect for parliamentary privilege. The majority may have their way, but the minority must have its say.”
Dickson Accuses FG of Promoting ‘Unconstitutional Military Rule’
The former Bayelsa governor described the presidential communication as an attempt to entrench unconstitutional rule in Rivers.
“It is troubling that, on a day meant to celebrate civil rule and justice, the Senate chose to read an undemocratic communication without challenge,” he stated.
“Why choose today—of all days—to endorse actions that clearly violate the Constitution?”
While acknowledging Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech as “flowery and impressive in tone,” Dickson said there was a clear gap between the President’s words and the political realities on the ground.
“You cannot claim to be a democrat on paper and trample on democracy in practice,” he added.
“The President missed a golden opportunity to restore constitutional order in Rivers.”
Not About Party or Person, But Democracy – Dickson
Dickson rejected claims that his stance was politically motivated.
“This is not about Governor Fubara or any party,” he said.
“It is about the people of Rivers State and the sanctity of our democratic institutions.”
He warned that allowing federal interference in elected state governments sets a dangerous precedent.
“What happened in Lagos during the elections was a power grab. What is happening in Rivers is a continuation of that trend. We cannot build democracy on repression and silence.”
A Call to Defend Democracy for All Nigerians
In closing, Dickson urged all Nigerians—regardless of political affiliation—to speak up for democratic values.
“This is not just about one state,” he said.
“It is about protecting our democracy for every Nigerian—north, south, east, and west. We owe it to those who fought, and we owe it to future generations to do better.”
Call to Action: Share Your Thoughts!
What’s your take on President Tinubu’s silence on the Rivers crisis? Is Nigeria’s democracy under threat?
💬 Leave a comment below and join the conversation on how Nigeria can protect its democratic institutions.
📢 Don’t forget to share this article to spread awareness about the growing concerns around federal interference in state-level governance.
About the author
Adenta Building Collapse Linked to Illegal Construction and Ignored Stop-Work Orders
A preliminary investigation into the collapse of a three-storey building at Adenta New Site in the Greater Accra Region has revealed that the project was carried out without the required regulatory approvals and in defiance of official stop-work directives issued by local authorities. The findings were released by a Joint Technical Investigative Committee comprising structural engineering experts and representatives from the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Gh), and the Architecture Registration Council (ARC). According to the committee, the incident highlights serious violations of Ghana’s building regulations and raises concerns about compliance and enforcement within the construction sector. The building collapsed on June 3, 2026, trapping five occupants beneath the debris. The victims included three adults and two children. Rescue teams successfully pulled four individuals from the rubble alive and transported them to the […]
Kpandai Residents Encouraged to Promote Unity and Peace for Sustainable Development
Residents of Kpandai in the Northern Region have been encouraged to put aside tribal, linguistic and political differences and work collectively toward the development of their communities. The call was made by the Parish Priest of St. Kizito Parish, Rev. Fr. Moses Nseaminya, during the launch of the St. Kizito Parish Feast, Partnership and Cultural Day Celebration. The event seeks to promote peace, social cohesion and stronger relationships among the various ethnic groups living within the district. Speaking during the launch, Rev. Fr. Nseaminya emphasized that diversity should be viewed as a strength that can drive development rather than a source of conflict and division. He noted that although residents come from different cultural backgrounds and hold varying political views, they all share a common goal of improving the welfare and future of Kpandai. According to the parish priest, meaningful […]
ECG Explains Power Outages in Greater Accra and Western Regions Following Technical Faults
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has attributed ongoing power interruptions in parts of the Greater Accra and Western regions to separate technical faults affecting its distribution network. In a statement issued on Monday, June 8, 2026, the power distributor said a technical fault at the Nsawam Primary Station has disrupted electricity supply to several communities within the Accra West operational area. The affected communities include Hebron, Medie, Samsam, Satellite, Koleman and nearby areas, where residents have been experiencing intermittent power outages. According to ECG, engineering teams have been deployed to the station and are actively working to identify and rectify the fault to restore stable electricity supply as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, in the Western Region, a broken high-tension (HT) electricity pole at Ankasa has caused a separate power disruption, affecting multiple towns and communities across the area. Communities […]
Burkina Faso forme 8 000 jeunes VDP agricoles pour renforcer l’autosuffisance alimentaire
La cérémonie officielle de sortie de la 3e cohorte des Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie (VDP) agricoles et de fin de formation de 8 000 jeunes en entrepreneuriat agricole s’est tenue le 5 juin 2026 à l’École nationale de formation agricole (ENAFA) de Matourkou. L’initiative s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’Initiative présidentielle pour l’agriculture et l’autosuffisance alimentaire, portée par les autorités burkinabè. Cette formation vise à renforcer les capacités des jeunes dans le secteur agricole tout en les impliquant dans une dynamique de production locale et de souveraineté alimentaire. Une jeunesse formée entre agriculture, civisme et engagement citoyen Le directeur exécutif du Bureau national des grands projets du Burkina Faso, Hamidou Sawadogo, a salué l’engagement des bénéficiaires. Selon lui, le programme traduit la volonté des autorités de transformer durablement le secteur agricole afin de réduire la dépendance alimentaire […]
Clément Zongo dédicace trois ouvrages littéraires à Ouagadougou
Le journaliste-chroniqueur burkinabè Clément Zongo a procédé, le 6 juin 2026 à Ouagadougou, à la dédicace de trois ouvrages intitulés La fille aux cheveux châtains, Les Chroniques de Clément Zongo et Juste un coup de plume. La cérémonie, organisée dans la grande salle du Centre national des arts du spectacle et de l’audiovisuel (CENASA), a réuni des acteurs du monde culturel, des professionnels des médias ainsi que de nombreux passionnés de littérature. De son vrai nom Alexis Yaméogo, Clément Zongo est titulaire d’une maîtrise en sciences et techniques de l’information et de la communication. Conseiller des affaires culturelles, il s’est distingué au fil des années grâce à plusieurs récompenses obtenues dans le domaine littéraire. Un roman consacré à la lutte contre les préjugés liés à l’albinisme Parmi les œuvres présentées figure La fille aux cheveux châtains, un roman qui aborde […]
Three Rescued as Rescue Teams Search for Trapped Victims After North Industrial Area Building Collapse
Rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate and extract individuals believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Accra’s North Industrial Area following a structural failure that has left several people injured. According to Alex King Nartey of the Ghana National Fire Service's communications team, three people have so far been rescued from the scene and are currently receiving medical treatment. However, emergency responders fear that at least three more individuals may still be trapped under the debris. Speaking at the site, Mr. Nartey explained that rescue operations have been slowed by the absence of earth-moving equipment needed to remove large sections of collapsed concrete and debris safely. He disclosed that the Fire Service has requested assistance from the military, while the Mayor of Accra has also facilitated the deployment of heavy machinery to support the […]
Related
Tension in Anambra as suspected cultists kill popular advertiser, one other
The attacks were reported in Awka on Sunday, with residents expressing fear as police and other security agencies moved to investigate the killings. Aiza was widely known in Awka as a mobile advertiser, DJ and media personality. Reports said he was shot by gunmen in an attack believed to be linked to cult-related violence, though police had not publicly established a motive at the time of reporting. A second man was also reportedly killed in a separate shooting incident, heightening anxiety among residents. The Anambra State Police Command has previously urged witnesses to provide useful information confidentially as it investigates violent attacks and works to identify those responsible.premiumtimesng+3 Authorities are expected to provide further details on the identities of the victims, the circumstances of the attacks and any arrests as the investigation progresses.
2027: Don’t set Nigeria on fire, NILDS boss warns political actors
Speaking on the Newsmen Personality Interview Series in Abuja, Sulaiman urged politicians to embrace issue-based campaigns and inclusive politics to protect the country’s democracy.vanguardngr+1 Sulaiman cautioned against vulgar statements, hate speech and actions capable of threatening national unity or heightening tensions unnecessarily as electioneering activities gather momentum. He said NILDS is finalising plans to convene a political communication summit to address the quality of campaign messaging and public discourse.vanguardngr+1 “Our appeal is that our campaign utterances should be issue-based. We should avoid vulgar statements. We should avoid statements that could set the country on fire,” he said. He also appealed to political parties and politicians not to take Nigerians for granted, but to promote inclusive politics for marginalised groups, especially women and youth
Nigerian man sentenced to 8 years in US prison for $7.5m charity scam
Adejorin was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his 96-month prison term, following his conviction on wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorised computer-access charges.dailyvoice+2 US District Judge Theodore Chuang sentenced Adejorin on Friday after a federal jury found him guilty in December 2025 following a six-day trial in Maryland. The 32-year-old was extradited from Ghana to the United States in August 2024 to face the charges.patch+2 Prosecutors said the fraud took place between June and August 2020 and targeted a Maryland-based charitable organisation that provided investment services for another charity in New York. Adejorin allegedly accessed employee email accounts, registered fraudulent lookalike web domains and impersonated staff of the New York charity.dailyvoice+3 Using the compromised accounts and fake identities, he sent instructions requesting withdrawals and transfers from the Maryland organisation. The scheme caused more […]
Cholera: NCDC warns of fresh surge as 65,000 cases hit 35 states
The warning comes as Nigeria’s rainy season heightens the risk of outbreaks, especially in communities affected by flooding, poor sanitation and limited access to safe drinking water.ncdc+1 Cholera is a bacterial disease spread mainly through contaminated food and water, and it can cause severe watery diarrhoea and dehydration if treatment is delayed. The NCDC has urged Nigerians to promptly visit a health facility if they or someone around them develops sudden watery diarrhoea, rather than relying on self-medication.ncdc The agency advised people to drink safe water, boil and store water in clean covered containers, wash hands frequently with soap and running water, and ensure food is thoroughly cooked. It also warned against open defecation, indiscriminate waste disposal and unsafe handling of food, all of which can fuel transmission.ncdc Health authorities are strengthening surveillance and response capacity nationwide, including through rapid-response […]
Police challenge VDM to provide evidence of officers aiding kidnappers
The police said the allegation is serious and will be thoroughly investigated if VDM submits credible evidence to support it. VDM made the allegation at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, claiming that some officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and share details of their movements with criminal groups to facilitate kidnappings for ransom. Reacting in a statement, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu invited VDM to produce the evidence behind the claims without delay. The police specifically requested information indicating that officers identify affluent travellers at checkpoints and relay their identities or travel details to kidnappers. The Force said it treats complaints of misconduct by personnel seriously but cautioned against broad accusations that are not backed by evidence. It maintained that officers deployed at checkpoints are assigned to prevent crime, detect criminal activities and […]
Motorists lament obstruction, accident trap on Enugu–Onitsha Expressway
The truck reportedly broke down about five days ago near the site of the international motor parts market being constructed by the Enugu State Government. Motorists say the obstruction has become a serious danger to travelers. A motorist, Uchenna Eze, said the abandoned truck had contributed to several accidents, leaving multiple people injured and taken to hospital for treatment. He added that the obstruction had also created serious gridlock along the busy expressway. Eze appealed to the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Enugu State Government to remove the truck immediately and restore the free flow of traffic. He questioned why the obstruction had remained despite an FRSC checkpoint located close to the affected area. “This is a very bad situation. The place where the truck broke down is very dangerous and it has been causing accidents,” he said, urging […]