By Ajiri Daniels
Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the South-South Senate Caucus, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate a broad political process aimed at resolving the separatist agitation led by detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In an official statement titled “Nnamdi Kanu: The Imperative of a Political Solution,” the senator said Nigeria must embrace dialogue to end violence, restore normalcy, and address long-standing grievances in the South East and across the country.
Dickson aligned himself with other leaders and stakeholders calling for a solution that would lead to Kanu’s release on terms that ensure peace and reintegration. He stressed that this move should be seen as part of a broader national effort rather than a regional demand, noting that Nigerians who desire unity, peace, and justice support such a path.
He condemned the violence witnessed in the South East and the terrorist attacks ravaging various parts of the North, expressing sympathy for all victims. As a former police officer and Attorney-General, Dickson said the killing of security operatives particularly distressed him, insisting that violence and lawlessness must be rejected everywhere.
According to him, while the state has responded in ways typical of sovereign nations confronting threats to their authority, history shows that arrests, trials, convictions, and even executions have never been sufficient to end separatist movements. He argued that sustainable solutions emerge through political processes guided by leaders who prioritise national interest over personal or sectional considerations.
Dickson referenced global and local precedents, including the experiences of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and Isaac Adaka Boro in Nigeria. Despite their arrests and convictions, he noted, peace only emerged when political engagement replaced punitive measures. He also recalled the Niger Delta peace initiative under Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, which birthed the Presidential Amnesty Programme and brought stability to the region.
Highlighting the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon, Dickson cited the decision to pardon Boro and his comrades and integrate them into the federal forces during the civil war as a demonstration of broad-minded statesmanship. He reflected on inviting Gowon to Bayelsa during his tenure as governor, where the former Head of State laid a wreath at the Ijaw Heroes Memorial Park, where Boro’s remains were reburied.
Dickson insisted that the responsibility now lies with President Tinubu — not as a politician but as a statesman — to lead a peace initiative that addresses the root causes of separatist agitations. He urged the President to pursue a process that would secure Kanu’s renunciation of violence while addressing historical injustices and structural imbalances across Nigeria.
He reminded Nigerians that Tinubu had long advocated for restructuring during his activism in NADECO and the Alliance for Democracy, adding that the President is well-positioned to lead such reforms. Dickson pledged his full support for any effort in that direction.
While legal processes continue, the senator urged the government to ensure Kanu’s safety, emphasising humane treatment and secure custody. He warned that with security forces already stretched by the fight against terrorism and banditry, Nigeria cannot afford new conflict zones.
Dickson also pledged his support for national mobilisation to confront terrorism, extremist attacks, and ransom-driven banditry, which he described as attempts to ridicule and destabilise the Nigerian state.
He appealed to the people of the South East, especially the youth, to remain calm and participate in political efforts aimed at building a fair and inclusive Nigeria. He revealed that, as chairman of the South-South Senate Caucus, he has begun consultations with colleagues from the South East and other regions to push for the right steps toward national stability.
“As everyone knows, I am available for any engagement that can lead to a restructured Nigeria that will work for all,” the statement concluded.
