FrontNaija News | June 12, 2025.
As Nigeria marks another Democracy Day, former Governor of Bayelsa State and serving Senator for Bayelsa West, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, has strongly condemned the ongoing political instability in Rivers State, calling it a direct contradiction of the very principles of democracy that the country claims to be celebrating.
Speaking during a Democracy Day broadcast monitored by FrontNaija News, Dickson expressed deep concern over what he described as “the gradual erosion of democratic values” in the state due to recent developments.
We cannot be shouting democracy and celebrating it nationwide while the will of the people is being suppressed in Rivers State. Democracy is not just about elections—it is about respect for institutions, the rule of law, and the fundamental rights of the people,” Dickson said.
The former governor emphasized that democracy must be practiced, not just preached, warning that Rivers State is fast becoming a symbol of political manipulation and executive overreach.
Those who benefit from democracy must be its protectors, not its oppressors. We must speak out when the sanctity of legislative houses is desecrated, when elected representatives are threatened, and when governance is reduced to a tool for personal vengeance,” he added.Dickson’s comments come amid the ongoing feud between factions loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, former Governor Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The power struggle has led to divisions in the state legislature, reports of intimidation, and a series of legal and political controversies that have drawn national attention.
He called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene decisively to protect democracy in Rivers State and ensure that political actors respect constitutional processes.> “Today, as we mark another year of our democratic journey, we must ask ourselves:
are we progressing or regressing? Rivers is a test case. If we fail there, we set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country.”Dickson’s statement has since sparked wide reactions across social and political circles, with many applauding his courage to speak truth to power on a day meant to reflect democratic values.
Frontnaija.com
