By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

Former member of the Federal House of Representative from Bayelsa State, Israel Sunny Goli has tackled the former Governor of the State and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial district, Senator Seriake Dickson over his Democracy Day outburst questioning the democratic credentials of President Bola Tinubu.

Sunny Goli, who is also a traditional ruler in Brass Kingdom in a statement titled “The Hypocrisy of Henry Seriake Dickson – A Supposed Democrat with an Undemocratic Legacy ” declared that Senator Dickson’s criticism of President Tinubu’s interventions in Rivers State rings “hollow, considering his own troubling legacy in Bayelsa State during his eight years rule as governor.”

Sunny-Goli noted that while Dickson’s tenure as governor was marked by a blatant disregard for democratic principles, earning him a reputation as one of the most undemocratic leaders in the history of Bayelsa State, he was shocked and astonished when he read the outburst of Senator Dickson during the democracy day celebration questioning the democratic credentials of President Tinubu.

He also also recalled the harrowing experience of the present Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and himself had under the Dickson administration in Bayelsa.

Sunny-Goli stated that Ogbuku and himself were falsely accused of murder and extrajudicially targeted for killing or imprisonment. While he escaped being arrested, Ogbuku was not lucky as he was indiscriminately put in prison custody for months.

His words: “His administration institutionalized oppression, stifled opposition voices, and exhibited an unparalleled aversion to democratic norms. Dickson’s government made political persecution a state policy, targeting opposition figures through fabricated allegations.

“Dickson falsely accused myself and Samuel Ogbuku of murder, weaponizing state machinery to crush dissent. The systematic suppression of opposing voices defined his leadership, ensuring that political rivals were either side-lined or silenced.

“Following the unceremonious end of the administration in which I served as the Special Adviser on Youths to then-Governor Timipre Sylva in 2012, Dickson outrightly withheld my severance payment, along with those of other appointees who served under that administration.

“His refusal was based solely on our decision to remain loyal to our principal rather than align with him. Only those who crossed over to his camp received their severance benefits. To this day, those of us who stood firm are yet to receive the severance payments rightfully owed to us.

“In 2015, while serving as a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly representing Brass Constituency 1, I faced an unjust denial of my constitutional entitlements as directed by Dickson.

“He actively sought to frustrate my tenure, ensuring I was excluded from official functions, including foreign travel opportunities with my colleagues and denied me my constituency projects.

“Upon completing my tenure in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, I had no option but to seek justice through the Code of Conduct Bureau. My petition prompted an investigation that uncovered the unjust treatment I had experienced at the hands of the then Speaker, Konbowei Benson (who is now a Senator representing Bayelsa Central).

“He acknowledged that I was owed certain entitlements, following directives from Dickson. It was due to my involvement of the Code of Conduct Bureau that i was eventually paid all that i was owed.

“Dickson’s aversion to democratic governance was further highlighted in his public declaration that he did not recognize any of the lawmakers from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as those from other political parties.

“Though the opposition legislators were duly elected, he brazenly asserted that only representatives from his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), deserved recognition, ironically, a man known for silencing dissent and consolidating power now seeks to portray himself as a defender of democracy.”

On the Rivers crisis, Sunny-Goli commended President Bola Tinubu for his quick and practical intervention, describing the President as a steadfast advocate for constitutional governance.

“Even Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the key figure in the conflict, has expressed appreciation for the President’s decisive action. Yet, Dickson appears determined to insert himself unnecessarily into the discourse.

“If Dickson were truly a democrat, he would honour the mutual understanding in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, which mandates the rotation of the Senate seat between Ekeremor and Sagbama..

“Instead, he continues to prioritize his personal ambition over the collective will of the people. He should borrow a leaf from the people of Bayelsa East Senatorial District, who have steadfastly upheld their rotational arrangement.

“This system was designed to ensure an equitable distribution of representative opportunities among the local government areas within the district.”