Seriake Dickson reveals senators who opposed Tinubu’s Emergency Rule during Senate closed session
Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator seriake Dickson has revealed that during the closed session by the Senate to consider the Emergency Rule declared on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, he and a few other senators opposed the move.
Dickson said although a number of senators where not given the opportunity to speak during the closed door session, former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal also rejected the Emergency Rule.
He also mentioned the name of Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe as another senator who also rejected Tinubu’s emergency Rule.
Dickson said when he realized that majority of senators supported the emergency Rule, he refused to participate in the open session.
Dickson made the revelation on his X handle.
The statement reads in part: “Yesterday, 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 and as I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections in the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my views as a Democrat, sworn to uphold the Nigerian constitution.
“The Senate did not undertake the debate in an open session however, it was quite robust. I want to thank Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his strong support of the unconstitutionality of the declaration, especially the aspect that deals with the suspension of the elected officials of the Rivers State government. At the end of the day, majority of the senators supported the proclamation as no room was given for an open debate at plenary.
“I left the plenary before the Senate President was directed to report the outcome because I didn’t want to be present while what I opposed is being reported. I believe Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe and others also left.
“I want to make it clear that as I stated repeatedly, I spoke and voted against the proclamation in our closed session, supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and a few other senators who were not recognized to speak.”
