Former Bayelsa State Governor and current Senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson, has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of habitually converting serious national challenges into tools for political warfare.
Dickson said the pattern was evident in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) prosecution of former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke. Despite the fanfare surrounding the case at the time, he argued that there was no substantive evidence to justify the charges.
Oke, appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, became the subject of corruption allegations during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The EFCC eventually withdrew the case, but Dickson insists the ordeal was driven more by politics than by the pursuit of justice.
Speaking after the Senate screened President Bola Tinubu’s first batch of ambassadorial nominees—which included Oke, Kayode Are, and Aminu Dalhatu—Dickson said the former NIA boss should never have been subjected to such an investigation.
In his role as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Dickson said he questioned Oke directly about the controversies surrounding his exit from office.
Writing on X, he explained that Oke provided detailed clarification during the screening session and also presented a court order confirming his acquittal after the case was withdrawn.
According to Dickson, the situation reinforces what he describes as the APC’s pattern of “selective prosecution” and its tendency to politicise issues that demand national unity and seriousness.
He argued that from its inception, the APC “turned corruption, insecurity, and economic distress into political talking points” rather than tackling them consistently. Dickson accused the party of exploiting the Boko Haram crisis for political gain and noted that insecurity escalated despite the party’s promises, even under a president from the northern region.
He also accused the APC of double standards in its stance on fuel subsidy, saying those who once protested attempts to reduce subsidy subsequently implemented a full removal, with harsher consequences for Nigerians.
Dickson likened Oke’s experience to that of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, describing both as examples of what he called the APC’s “misguided attempt to criminalise the PDP and its leaders.”
While emphasising that he supports any sincere anti-corruption effort, Dickson stressed that such efforts must be fair, consistent, and applied uniformly without political bias.
He also cautioned against mishandling sensitive institutions such as the office of the National Security Adviser and the intelligence community, noting that these structures are crucial to national stability and must be insulated from political vendettas. According to him, once an intelligence chief executes a lawful presidential directive, they should be fully protected from political backlash.
Dickson stated that he supported Oke’s clearance because the EFCC case—already withdrawn—lacked merit from the start. He also endorsed the confirmation of Kayode Are and Aminu Dalhatu, describing them as seasoned professionals well suited for diplomatic responsibilities.
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