DETAILS EMERGE WHY SENATORS OPPOSED TO STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS BOYCOTTED VOICE VOTE
It has been revealed that Senators opposed to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara were not allowed to address the Red Chamber during its closed-door session to consider the action of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Henry Seriake-Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party for Bayelsa West Senatorial District, however, acknowledged Senator Aminu Tambuwal of the PDP from Sokoto State and Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressive Grand Alliance for Abia South among a few who spoke in condemnation of the emergency declaration.
Senator Seriake-Dickson further explained that he decided to abandon the plenary before the adoption of the motion because he did not want to be present to hear the report of the issue he had opposed.
The Bayelsa West Senator said he believed that Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe and several other Senators opposed to the emergency rule in Rivers State equally left the plenary before the voice vote was adopted.
He acknowledged efforts made by the leadership of the Senate to modify the terms of the declaration to accommodate views expressed by Senators opposed to the proclamation.
On the exchange between him and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, before the Senate went into a closed session, Senator Seriake-Dickson said the Senate President was unfair to him.
He said Senator Akpabio tried to censor his freedom of expression, maintaining that he never hid his opposition in principle to the declaration of a state of emergency, as well as the suspension of elected officials.
The former governor of Bayelsa State maintained that the Senate is meeting of equals and everyone should be respected, adding that no senator needs the permission of the Senate President to express an opinion in an interview on a topical matter of national interest that is in the public domain.
Senator Henry Seriake-Dickson said he intends to meet the Senate President to formally express his displeasure over the issue, to prevent a reoccurrence.