- Safiu Kehinde
Former Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Seriake Dickson, has urged Ijaw and Ikwerre indigenes not to assume the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers as tribal war.
Dickson made the plea during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Thursday.
Reacting to the emergency declaration on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu, the lawmaker representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District admitted that there are worries in the south-south state.
However, this, according to him does not warrant the declaration of state of emergency.
Citing the Section 305 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution, Dickson acknowledged that the constitution made provision for the state of emergency declaration.
He, however, faulted the suspension of elected officials which was not contained in the constitution.
“Yes there are worries in Rivers state but it’s not something that a declaration of emergency will address. It doesn’t call for it. If you look at the constitution, section 305 of the Nigerian constitution, it gives you steps and conditions that will warrant or justify a declaration of a state of emergency.
“You can declare a state of emergency, which is provided in the constitution, without necessarily and at the same time removing elected leaders, the governor, his deputy as well as the members of the state House of Assembly.
“The Supreme Court has held that the Honourable Martins Amaewhule is the Speaker of the House of Assembly. Then that issue is settled, subject to other litigations.” He said.
Dickson thereafter disposed his effort in sensitizing his people since the declaration in an effort to avoid an outbreak of tribal war like the Rwandan genocide.
“I know we are dealing with tense situations right now. But since this proclamation, I have been busy calling and receiving calls. Making calls and call for calm for people to reduce their temper.
“You know no matter how well-intentioned when you sit at Abuja and make proclamations like that, it send shockwave and people react differently.
“Some see it as highly provocative and oppressive. So in calling people, firstly my people, I have been making a case that this should not be seen as a war between two tribal groups who are brothers and neighbours- the Ikwerre people and Ijaw people.
“I have been making that case for a long time now. So that we don’t wake up one morning and have a situation like Rwanda where overnight, neighbours wielding machetes and other terrors of war, unleashed violence on brothers calling them cockroaches, rats and others. This is how this thing begins.” He said.
Dickson held that the emergency declaration is a battle for political control and not a call for tribal war.
The ex-Bayelsa disclosed that just as there are Ikwerre people in support of the suspended Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, there also prominent Ijaw leaders behind the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“I want to use this opportunity to urge all leaders across the divides that this should be seen as a political contest.
“A battle for the control of the political soul of Rivers state and the resources thereof and not a war between ethnic groups.
“There are key Ijaw leaders supporting the Minister of State (FCT) and also there are Ikwerre people, the Minister’s ethnic group, who are in support of the governor.
“So I want to urge our people to see it as I’ve explained so that we don’t wake up one morning and have a Rwanda kind of situation.” He added.