"I WAS JOLTED BY DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE" - SEN HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON

March 19, 2025, 7:38 a.m.

This evening, like all Nigerians, I was jolted by the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. While we are all aware of the prolonged political disputes in the state, I do not support the declaration of a state of emergency, especially when that is taken to mean that the Governor and his Deputy will vacate their seats for six months. I don't believe that is the intendment of the constitution, and that has been my position on matters like this even when we had a PDP President. I have always opposed declarations of emergency in states that meant that their governors would vacate their offices, and this is no exception. I have always had the view that even with the declaration of a state of emergency in a state, the elected government must be protected and need not be removed. I have spent all my adult life fighting and defending our people, even when leaders, out of envy and wickedness, sponsor propaganda and misinformation. When I was leaving as governor, and because I knew the anti-democratic and anti-Ijaw forces in our region and in the country, having fought and defeated them, knowing their strengths, strategies and their determination, I brought in a successor. He did not tell me he wanted to be a governor. I brought him in to lead and protect our people with our support, because he was part of the Ijaw movement. While managing a recession for six years during my 8-year tenure, I worked and made a mark in all sectors of our State. We raised and maintained countless number of people — men, women and youths, with less than N500 million monthly after paying half salaries in a recession. We still stopped the brutal federal forces from taking over the state in 2015, 2019 general elections, and 2020 governorship election where I sponsored all candidates with the support of our friends and allies. Is this what has become of the Ijaw nation that we all staked everything to build? It is a sad day for all democrats. It's a sad day for Rivers State, and a sad day for our people. I urge everyone to put on their thinking caps. I urge our people to lift up their spirits as we will get over this together. Sen Henry Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State.

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