Former Governor of Bayelsa State and current Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Henry Seriake Dickson, has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of turning serious national issues into political tools.
Dickson stated that this tendency explains why Ayodele Oke, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite no substantiated wrongdoing.
Oke, who was appointed NIA DG by former President Goodluck Jonathan, later faced corruption charges under the APC administration led by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking after the screening of the first set of ambassadorial nominees submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu—among whom Oke was listed—Dickson condemned the APC, insisting that such prosecution should never have occurred.
Tinubu had forwarded three names to the Senate for screening and confirmation: Ayodele Oke, Kayode Are and Aminu Dalhatu.
The Bayelsa West Senator, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, said he sought clarification on how Oke’s corruption case with Nigerian authorities was resolved.
Dickson wrote on X, “I asked Oke, pointedly, to clear the air on the controversies leading to his exit from office as NIA DG. In his answers, Ambassador Oke explained the issues leading to his departure and furnished us with a copy of a court order affirming his acquittal following the withdrawal of the case against him.”
He continued, “This confirms the view I have long held: since its formation, the APC has always played politics with serious national issues such as corruption, terrorism and the economy. They politicised and ethnicised the Boko Haram and terrorism challenges, which have escalated over the years under their watch, even with a President from the North.
“They played politics with the attempt at reducing fuel subsidy, but have now turned around to impose a harsher version of total subsidy removal, which has plunged Nigerians into poverty. And they engaged in a one-sided anti-corruption crusade, targeting and criminalising opposition leaders.
“After listening to Mr. Oke’s explanation, I have no doubt that he was a victim of the APC’s misguided vendetta to criminalise the PDP and its leadership, just as they did with Sambo Dasuki, former NSA.
“No one is against a well-structured, systematic and apolitical fight against corruption, which is a major national issue. But it must not target selected individuals or the opposition. Corruption must be fought across board, as all are equal before the law.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and other security and intelligence institutions, must be handled with greater respect and discretion, even when misconduct arises. These institutions are strategic tools in the hands of the President and the nation, and must be protected regardless of political considerations, to avoid compromising the security architecture of the country.
“Once an assignment or order is approved by a sitting President acting within his powers, and the order is not unlawful, the intelligence chief must be protected, even if politicians disagree.
“Following Mr. Oke’s explanation and the withdrawal of the case by the EFCC—which should not have started in the first place—I voted to clear Mr. Oke, and I congratulate him. I also voted at the Committee to clear the other two ambassadorial nominees, Kayode Are and Aminu Dalhatu, who are very experienced and eminently qualified Nigerians.”
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