Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly yesterday wondered why a former Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson would speak on the emergency rule in Rivers State, saying it is not under a military rule as the sole administrator is a retired military officer.
Addressing journalists, Leader of the caucus, Kingsley Chinda said the emergency rule declared in Rivers State was clearly a matter of necessity aimed at restoring law and order.
He said this was attested to by the suspended governor who recently thanked the president for declaring the state of emergency and accused Senator Dickson of decieving Fubara to make continous mistakes until he was suspended from office.
Chinda asked the Senate Committee on Ethics to immediately commence investigation into the utterances of Senator Dickson which he said were unparliamentary.
He said, “As members of the Rivers State Caucus in the National Assembly, we watched with utter dismay the vituperations of Senator Dickson of Bayessa West Senatorial District in his press briefing, wherein he expressed his anger at the emergency rule in Rivers State and chided the president for not using his June 12 address before the National Assembly to restore suspended Governor Sim Fubara to office.
“Let it be categorically stated that Rivers State is not under military rule. The current administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, is a retired military officer, just as Senator Dickson is himself a retired Police Corporal, but a serving senator.
“Both of them cannot be serving personnel of the Armed Forces. The implication of retirement is clear. Once an officer retires, he becomes a civilian and any leadership role he occupies is subject to civilian laws, norms and democratic oversight.
“To label the current administration as military rule is therefore misleading and intellectually disingenuous.
“The declaration of the state of emergency was a necessary constitutional intervention aimed at preserving peace, protecting lives and restoring institutional order. The decision was not taken lightly. It was prompted by the rising tide of political instability and executive rascality within the state.
“Also, the disregard for democratic institutions was one of the reasons why we had that declaration.
“This position was also affirmed by the Supreme Court judgment of February 28, wherein it clearly stated that there was indeed no government in the state the way it was being operated then.”
