Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has challenged the Nigerian Senate to abandon political pleasantries and face the harsh realities of the nation’s security crisis, insisting that the current administration deserves “truth, not commendation.”
Speaking during a plenary session on Tuesday regarding the worsening security situation in the country, the Senator representing Bayelsa West expressed strong disapproval of the Senate’s decision to commend President Bola Tinubu amidst escalating violence.
Dickson described the current security climate as unprecedented, noting that the frequency of attacks has surpassed what is typically seen even in nations officially at war.
He highlighted a grim catalogue of recent events, including the abduction of students, simultaneous banditry attacks across multiple states, and the targeted killing of military personnel, including high-ranking officers such as a Brigadier General.
“I felt that the deterioration of the security situation in most communities… is are situation that even nations at war do not experience,” Dickson stated. “Therefore, the matter should be examined with all the seriousness it deserves.”
The discussion took a contentious turn when Dickson criticised the tone of the motion brought forward by the majority party. He argued that the motion was “unnecessarily political” and failed to match the gravity of the existential threat facing the nation.
Dickson warned that the crisis has grown beyond simple policy failure, threatening the very fabric of the country.
“It is very clear that not only our democracy is under threat, but the nation itself is being reduced, belittled, and threatened,” he asserted.
According to the Senator, his refusal to align with the majority’s position led to an abrupt end to his contribution. Dickson revealed that the Senate President did not allow him to conclude his remarks after he voiced his disagreement with the plan to commend the executive branch.
“I do not agree with the request in the motion, supported by the majority of speakers from the majority party, that the President and the government should be commended. I disagree with it,” Dickson affirmed.
While he reiterated his long-standing call for national unity to address the attacks, Dickson maintained that such unity must be built on an honest assessment of the government’s performance, rather than political praise during a time of national mourning.
