Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, has urged his colleagues in the Senate to speak candidly to President Bola Tinubu about Nigeria’s worsening security situation, rather than offering empty commendations.
Speaking during plenary on Wednesday, November 27, Dickson warned against “sugarcoating” the realities on the ground, calling for leaders to rise above political correctness and sycophancy.
“I believe the President needs to be told the truth, and those with access to him, particularly from the majority party and others, should provide an honest account of the situation. There should be no sugarcoating, as that is unnecessary hypocrisy and a disservice to both the country and the president,” he said.
Dickson criticized what he described as an “ill-timed and insensitive” motion to commend the President over security efforts, noting that such gestures would be “provocative” to victims of banditry, insurgency, and violent crime.
“It is not helpful to the image of the Senate as an institution, or to the president who is sought to be commended. If things had been so well done, we would not be where we are today. How will the victims, soldiers on the frontlines, and families of those killed feel?” he asked.
The lawmaker added that many Senators are unable to visit their constituencies due to insecurity, while some districts are reportedly under the control of terrorists who “run parallel governments and impose all manner of taxes on their constituents.”
He stressed that the Senate has a duty to provide oversight and accountability for the trillions of naira allocated to the military and security agencies.
“Our responsibility is to express strong solidarity and support to those fighting on the frontlines while working with the Executive. This is achieved through effective oversight, budgetary support, and policy guidance. The motion required us to examine allocations and disbursements to the military and security agencies, which have received staggering sums over the years to combat terrorism,” Dickson said.
The senator also accused the Senate President of “deliberately misinterpreting” his comments during the debate. He clarified that his reference to “the other side” was a standard parliamentary term denoting the majority or minority party.
“No senator is obliged to speak the way the Senate President wants. The presiding officer moderates as a colleague, not as a superior,” he said, adding that attempts to silence his contributions on national matters will not deter him.
“Finally, this is one of many instances where the Senate President has sought to prevent me from speaking on pressing national issues. We will not give up until it is understood that in a democracy, the majority may have their way, but the minority must also be heard,” he stated.
Dickson called for inquiries into the recent withdrawal of military personnel from Kebbi State and the killing of Major General U. A. Uba by ISWAP terrorists.
“I support the resolutions for a Senate inquiry into the withdrawal of military personnel in Kebbi and the circumstances surrounding the capture and killing of General Uba, including how the Army managed his family,” he said, extending condolences to the families of fallen soldiers and victims of insecurity.
He concluded by stressing that the country must confront the security crisis with honesty, courage, and unity.