.Says Democracy Without Opposition Is Dictatorship
The former governor of Bayelsa and current Senator, representing Bayelsa -West, Sen. Seriake Dickson has reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP.)
Dickson reaffirmed his membership of PDP at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, following the resignation of Gov. Duoye Diri of Bayelsa from the PDP.
Diri announced his resignation from the PDP on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa.
Dickson emphasised his continued commitment to the PDP, highlighting his loyalty to the party.
He said: “I’m just using this time to say that I am still standing in the PDP that gave my Bayelsa people, my Ijaw people, and the Niger-Delta people, an opportunity to run elections and emerged as Vice-President, Acting President of Nigeria, and President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
”I believe that there should be an opposition and democracy thrives on the presence of opposition political parties.
“If we don’t succeed in retrieving the PDP, in saving the PDP, then we’ll be part of a collective decision, which again should not be the ruling party, because I believe there must be opposition.
“Democracy without opposition ceases to be democracy, it becomes dictatorship from that day, it becomes totalitarianism from that day,” Dickson said.
On the nomination of Prof. Joash Amupitan as INEC chairman by President Bola Tinubu, the former governor said he supported his nomination based on the constitution.
“Opposition does not mean you have to be fighting. I’m here supporting the President’s nomination of INEC Chairman based on the constitution.
”It is the responsibility of the President to forward the name of INEC Chairman to the Senate. And he has done that.
“I know there are people who say a President, who is partisan should not have that power, but that is not the law, it is a constitutional responsibility and prerogative of the President to forward the name and if I find that worthy, I support.”
Dickson said as a federalist, he was not in political service for other considerations,but to advance the ideals of democracy and humanity.
”I am in to advance the ideals and values that are bigger than me; that are bigger than all of us. These are the things that moved me and that have brought me to this politics.”
He said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the INEC Chairman position was hinged on the merits of the nomination.
“He is the kind of person that, God willing, with everyone’s support and encouragement should be able to introduce the reforms in the electoral system and even reforms in INEC itself.
