Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has issued a stark warning that President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the Rivers State crisis could establish a dangerous precedent that may be used against major states like Lagos and Kano in the future.
Speaking in a video interview on Viable TV, the former Bayelsa State governor cautioned that the President’s approach to Rivers State could endanger democracy nationwide by creating what he termed the “Rivers State doctrine.”
“With this undemocratic precedent, the President, by pandering to particular political interests, has put the overall democracy of our people—particularly in big states like Lagos and Kano—in danger for the future,” Dickson warned during the television appearance.
The senator painted a troubling scenario of how future presidents might exploit the Rivers State precedent to undermine democratic governance in states where they cannot secure electoral victory.
“Because in the future, arising from the undemocratic and illegal precedent the President has set, any other President from any other part of this country—and no one can monopolize power forever—if they cannot get victory in Lagos and Kano and big states, they will now apply what they will term the ‘Rivers State doctrine,'” he explained.
Dickson detailed what this doctrine could entail, describing a systematic dismantling of democratic institutions.
“Which will be to declare a state of emergency, sack all constitutional civil authorities, appoint military administrators, appoint people to conduct local government elections, appoint people to run the civil service,” he outlined.
The senator emphasized the urgent need to prevent such a scenario from materializing.
“We can’t allow that. And we pray that that day should not come for states like Lagos and Kano,” Dickson concluded.
His comments suggest deep concern that the current handling of Rivers State affairs could set a precedent for future federal interventions in state governance, potentially undermining Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
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