Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State and a sitting senator, has issued a rebuke of Nigeria’s political elite, accusing them of orchestrating the nation’s gradual collapse into a failed state. His remarks, delivered at a workshop organized by the Nigeria Civil Society’s Alliance for Democratic Change (NCSADC), have sparked intense national debate on the state of democracy in Africa’s most populous country.
In an address titled “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy Through Unity and Resolve,” Senator Dickson warned that Nigeria’s political class is “unknowingly committing class suicide” by systematically undermining democratic institutions, suppressing dissent, and placing personal ambition above national interest.
“The Nigerian political class has devastated this country, and you, civil society, must not allow it to continue,” he declared. “They are actively damaging Nigeria and eroding its international stature.”
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He exposed a pattern of political impunity, including the manipulation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary. He criticized the rising trend of party defections, describing it as a self-serving culture where politicians abandon the very platforms that gave them power, with no regard for ideology or the electorate.
“Our democracy today is shaped by the whims of a president or governor,” he lamented. “There’s little respect for constitutional norms or how Nigeria is perceived globally.”
He took direct aim at the judiciary, branding it “powerless,” and accused judges of interpreting “body language” instead of the law. He alleged that court rulings are now predictable tools wielded by those in power to secure their grip on governance, regardless of the will of the people.
Senator Dickson didn’t stop there. He painted a grim picture of electoral malpractice, where security agencies such as the police, military, and Department of State Services (DSS) are weaponized to intimidate, brutalize, and even kill civilians during elections, all to protect the interests of the ruling elite.
“They want to control INEC and fabricate election results. They use the DSS, the police, and the military not to secure voters but to silence them,” he said. “This is not democracy. It is the signature of a failing nation.”
He also pointed out a growing disconnect between elected leaders and the people they claim to serve. According to Dickson, many politicians have become inaccessible and unaccountable, retreating into lavish mansions and ignoring the voices of their constituents.
“They don’t answer calls from the people who voted for them. Their homes are built to be unreachable. And they know they don’t need the people to win elections anymore. The rigged system guarantees their return to power.”
In a passionate appeal to civil society organizations, the senator urged immediate and united action to rescue Nigeria’s fragile democracy from total collapse. He warned that unless the political class is held accountable and forced to embrace free and fair elections, the nation could spiral irreversibly into lawlessness and anarchy.
